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Criminal 
Slang 


Hellycr  and  Jackson 


Copyrighted,  1914 
By  LOUIS  E.  JACKSON 


A  VOCABULARY  OF 

CRIMINAL    SLANG 


WITH 


SOME   EXAMPLES   OF 
COMMON    USAGES 


BY 
Louis   E.    Jackson 

'  ,  ,'    jAS-is.ed  uy 

C.    R.    Hellyer,  Ciiy  Detective  Department 
PORTLAND,  OREGON 

Price,  $1.50 


DEDICATED    TO 


C  4«.  WLoxh 

Sheriff  of  Multnomah  County,  Oregon 

A    Fearless 

and    Intelligent    Administrator 

of  a  Public  Trust. 


304190 


>     3    \>      ^ 


INTRODUCTION 


It  is  not  with  a  view  to  sensationalism  that  this  little  work 
is  undertaken,  but  with  a  sense  of  helpfulness,  of  social  obli- 
gation. It  is  submitted  for  the  perusal  and  study  of  all  those 
public  officers  and  professional  servants  whose  responsibilities 
are  such  as  to  bring  them  into  casual  or  constant  contact  with 
the  confirmed  criminal  classes. 

It  may  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  unfit  subjects  and 
thereby  contribute  to  the  propagation  of  its  contents  in  undesir- 
able quarters.  On  the  other  hand  we  may  consider  that  pub- 
licity is  the  speediest  agent  for  the  destruction  of  cankerous 
moral  growths.  Perhaps  the  possession  of  such  knowledge  as 
is  here  presented  argues  a  sordidness;  but  Gordian  knots  can 
be  untied  only  by  use  of  the  sword;  to  have  cherries  in  the 
winter  a  can  opener  must  be  used,  or  to  stand  eggs  on  end  you 
must  smash  them. 

By  the  very  nature  of  crime  its  efficient  vehicle  of  trans- 
mission is  ephemeral,  very  ephemeral.  The  vernacular  of 
twenty-five  years  ago  is  almost  oblivion  today.  So  with  the 
future;  provided,  of  course,  that  the  idiom  of  the  underworld 
surrender  its  meaning  to  the  social  layei's  superimposed  upon 
it.  This  process  can  be  made  effective  by  investigation  and 
publicity.  When  bench  and  bar,  the  press,  custodians  of  law 
and  order  and  private  agencies  devoted  to  the  detection,  re- 
pression and  correction  of  crime  are  made  familiar  with  the 
wiles  and  mode  of  communication  of  criminals,  the  latter  are 
rendered  less  powerful  insofar  as  the  evolved  system  of  guile 
and  wrong-doing  are   concerned. 


It  is  noticeably  true  that  our  average  law  officer  or  advo- 
cate is  necessarily  a  specialist  in  one  or  perhaps  a  few,  at 
most,  of  the  many  recognized  branches  of  professional  crime. 
The  limitation  is  occasioned  in  part  by  prescribed  capacity  and 
in  part  by  inexperience  or  unfamiliarity  with  criminals  of  all 
types  and  their  methods.  Efficiency  in  general  correctional 
labor  may  undoubtedly  be  promoted  by  a  fuller  understanding 
of  the  linguistic  acquirements  of  subjects  to  be  dealt  with  in 
every  day  practice.  It  is  hoped  that  the  publication  of  this 
vocabulary  of  criminal  terms  will  render  material  advantages 
to  the  conscientious  worl^ers  in  this  large   field. 

We  are  conscious  of  many  errors  of  omission  in  the  work 
and  we  request  the  co-operation  of  all  who  are  interested  in  its 
utility.  Only  the  essential  and  most  pertinent  or  purely  crim- 
inal vernacular  usages  have  been  selected  from  the  mystical 
parlance  of  professional  violators  and  their  accomplices,  for 
the  reason  that  popular  slang  Is  so  extensively  comprehended 
as  to  make  its  publication  of  doubtful  value  as  a  new  contri- 
bution  to  our  literature. 

An  analysis  of  the  four  hundred  and  thirty  terms  included 
in  the  vocabulary  reveals  the  interesting  fact  that  criminal 
idiom  is  largely  an  ingenious  combination  of  epithet  suggested 
by  similitude  and  a  perverted  construction  of  essential  and 
accidental  attributes  of  things  and  powers  to  imply  or  express 
the  things  and  actions  themselves.  An  occult  jargon  on  its 
face,  yet  systematic  enough  when  the  key  is  acquired. 

Some  of  the  terms  seem  to  have  been  derived  by  simple 
partition  of  legitimate  English  words,  occasionally  with  the 
addition  of  euphonious  prefix  or  suffix.  As  a  prime  example 
of  the  transposition  of  an  attribute  for  the  thing  itself,  con- 
sider what  is  perhaps  the  most  popular  slang  term  in  use 
today  in  the  unregenerate  world — "dope,"  at  present  signifying 
"news,"  "intelligence,"  or  "meaning."  Originally  this  word 
was    derived    from    opium    by    partition,    with    the    disguising 


consonant  "d"  prefixed  to  the  accented  syllable.  Amongst 
narcotic  habitues  the  most  salient  attribute  of  opium  is  stimulla- 
tion  of  loquacity,  or  imaginativeness  or  of  exaggeration.  In 
process  of  time  any  of  these  powers  came  to  characterize 
narcotic  intoxication;  thence  information  on  any  subject  was 
designated  "dope."  The  "dope  sheet,"  a  "line  of  dope,"  are 
natural  offshoots  of  this  tendency  to  transpose  attribute  into 
a  new  substantive.  To  philologists  this  noteworthy  observation 
should  infallibly  point  out  the  utter  lack  of  scientific  relation 
between  an  artificial  sound — or  visual — symbol  and  the  thing, 
quality  or  quantity  symbolized  thereby. 

Without  previous  instruction  a  person  gifted  with  intuition 
might  divine  the  signification  of  the  majority  of  these  terms  in 
vogue  by  weighing  the  context  of  the  sentences  in  which  they 
are  included.  Yet  a  practical  working  knowledge  of  them  should 
be  made  more  available  by  frequent  reference  to  a  complete 
list.  The  sole  excuse  for  criminal  slang  is  the  protection 
afforded  by  secrecy,  which  once  destroyed  the  slang  is  forced 
to  die  of  neglect,  though  it  will  naturally  be  superseded  by 
evolutionary    linguistic   devices. 

To  fraternize  with  a  secret  order  we  must  equip  ourselves 
with  a  knowledge  of  the  ceremonies  and  aims  as  well  as  the 
selective  means  of  the  secret  fraternists.  To  combat  criminals 
successfully  it  is  necessary  to  understand  their  complete  ve- 
hicles of  intercommunication,  else  the  investigator  is  unqualified 
to  fraternize  with  them  so  as  to  gain  a  fuller  ins'ght  both  into 
their  actions  and  the  living  motives  concealed  behind  them. 
Unquestionably,  every  term  in  the  vocabulary  is  known  to  some 
officer  of  the  law;  unquestionably,  too,  every  term  contained 
therein  is  understood  by  but  very  few  individuals  even  amongst 
criminals  themselves.  Therefore  it  would  seem  a  distinct  gain 
to  become  familiar  with  them  all. 

Aided  by  a  panoramic  view  of  recorded  crime  in  the  last 
generation   we   may   roughly   divide    criminal   offenses   into   the 


four  great  departments  of  crimes  against  self,  or  reflexive  crimes 
against  personal  character,  which  have  their  fountain  head  in 
intemperance  and  gluttony;  crimes  against  sex,  vsrhich  have 
their  basis  in  the  emotions  flowing  out  of  lust;  crimes  against 
property,  fed  by  the  sins  of  avarice  or  greed;  and  the  crimes  of 
violence,  growing  out  of  anger.  Of  these  four,  reflexive  crimes 
and  crimes  of  violence  are  distinctively  psychological  and  must 
be  left  to  the  individual  for  corrective  solution.  Crimes  against 
property  and  crimes  of  sexual  depravity  constitute  the  bulk  of 
costly  and  troublesome  cases  which  choke  the  machinery  of  our 
legal  tribunals  and  necessitate  a  regrettable  public  tax  for  main- 
tenance of  penal  and  detentional  institutions.  The  chronic  de- 
fectives who  most  seriously  menace  the  social  body  are 
comprised  of  prostitutes;  gamblers;  nondescriptively  larcenous 
tramps;  yeggs;  burglars;  sneak  thieves;  confidence  men;  dis- 
honest solicitors;  promoters  and  agents;  forgers;  merchandise 
thieves;  pickpockets;  highway  robbers;  and  their  accessories, 
the  unscrupulous  pawnbroker,  the  unrestrained  liquor  dealer,  and 
the  drug  dispenser.  It  goes  without  saying  that  the  volume  and 
value  of  business  transacted  by  these  latter  three  attest  the 
stupendous  proportions  of  the  direct  losses  sustained  by  the 
commonwealth  through  the  misdirected  energies  of  the  principal 
professional  criminal  classes. 

From  an  economical  standpoint  the  traffic  of  professional 
crime  is  stupendous.  We  are  mulcted  some  four  hundred  mil- 
lions of  dollars  annually  by  reason  of  the  criminal  element  in 
the  nation.  A  conservative  estimate  of  the  number  of  active 
professional  criminals  of  high  and  low  degree  is  probably  100,000. 
We  have  one  uniformed  police  officer  for  every  thousand  of 
population,  and  about  one  auxiliary  officer  per  thousand  of 
population  in  addition.  Here  are  200,000  more  persons  in  the 
non-productive  class.  Criminal  lawyers  and  criminal  court  func- 
tionaries   contribute    another   ratio   of  one   to   the   thousand   of 


10 


population,  making  a  conservative  total  of  400,000  engaged  in 
preying  upon  and  relieving  the  producers  from  distress  oc- 
casioned by  crimes  against  person  and  property. 

Admitting  that  the  average  income  of  the  300,000  police 
officers,  lawyers  and  court  officials  is  about  $1,200  per  year,  we 
have  a  $360,000,000  over-head  cost  charged  against  production. 
The  loss  sustained  through  the  peculations  of  criminals  and  the 
cost  of  detaining  them  is  not  less  than  another  $88,000,000  per 
year,  on  the  estimated  basis  of  $882  per  year  per  criminal.  A 
grand  total  of  $448,000,000! 

Suppose  the  average  age  of  the  professional  criminal  to  be 
30  years.  As  the  average  financial  investment  in  an  individual 
of  that  age  in  the  U.  S.  is  $12,600,  his  productive  capacity 
should  be  at  least  six  per  cent  on  the  investment  (if  possessed 
of  industrial  training),  plus  the  cost  of  human  upkeep;  which 
means  a  total  of  about  $1,170  per  year  earning  capacity  for  the 
average  individual.  Or  at  six  per  cent  interest  alone  on  the 
personality  investment  he  represents  an  annual  potential  addi- 
tion of  $757  to  the  national  wealth.  Add  to  this  the  cost  to  the 
state  of  detaining  him,  say  an  average  of  $125  per  year,  and  we 
have  $882  per  year  per  prisoner.  The  actual  loss  in  interest 
on  criminal  personality  investments  is  about  $75,000,000  per 
100,000  prisoners  per  year;  a  waste  that  is  perpetuated  by  the 
present  judicial  and  penal  system. 

Now,  the  average  thief  cannot  steal  $1,170  per  year,  nor 
even  $757,  when  account  is  taken  of  time  lost  in  prison.  The 
crux  of  the  situation  seems  to  lie  in  the  criminal's  lack  of  train- 
ing in  the  useful  arts,  together  with  moral  delinquency.  So  far 
we  have  experimented  chiefly  with  two  extremes  in  penology — 
employment  of  convicts  for  their  exploitation  by  selfish  interests 
on  the  one  hand,  and  unemployment  or  else  employment  of  such 
nature  as  tends  to  lower  the  standard  of  efficiency  of  the  in- 
dividual on  the  other  hand.  The  evolution  of  labor  unions  has 
suppressed    reform    that    makes    for    the    criminal's    economical 


11 


independence;  and  yet  the  criminal  element  is  recruited  mainly 
from  the  fourth  estate.  To  date  the  history  of  penology  shows 
some  development  of  apprehenders  and  keepers  in  the  practical 
side  of  the  work,  but  at  the  prime  expense  of  the  apprehended. 
The  producers  at  large  pay  the  interest  on  the  debt,  whilst  the 
principal  is  shouldered  by  the  deficient  themselves  who  are 
passing  it  along  to  the  future  generations. 

As  to  the  moral  asoect  of  the  problem  with  which  the  pro- 
fessional criminal  confronts  the  nation,  it  must  ultimately  be 
determined  by  psychology.  Intemperance,  greed,  lust  and  anger; 
these  are  the  radical  causes.  Economical  dependence  is  the 
first  outgrowth  of  these  known  qualities  but  unknown  quantities. 

How  are  we  going  to  reduce  the  overshadowing  difficulty? 
By  ostracism?  By  sterilization?  By  simple  detaining  repression 
without  corresponding  elimination  of  root  causes?  As  for 
ostracism,  folly  flees  a  grave  danger  whilst  moral  courage 
fortified  by  intelligence  faces  and  overcomes  it.  Ostracism  re- 
vives and  perpetuates  caste  divisions  of  society.  Sterilization 
is  as  wrong  in  a  larger  moral  view  as  infanticide  in  a  smaller; 
the  theory  has  emanated  from  higher  intellectual,  moral  and 
spiritual  darkness.  It  solves  the  criminal  problem  like  national 
debt  solves  the  economical  problem — saddles  a  moral  mortgage 
upon  posterity.  Detention  without  conferring  assimilable  moral 
uplift  and  increased  economical  efficiency  is  a  parallel  for  the 
fabled  delusion  of  the  ostrich.  Imprisonment  as  it  obtains  today 
costs  much  and  produces  little  or  nothing  save  waste.  The 
maintenance  of  delinquents  in  rotting  idleness  or  at  labor  which 
is  subsequently  unprofitable  to  the  prisoner  from  the  standpoint 
of  talent  and  character  development  is  an  unbusiness-like  as 
well  as  an  inhumane  make-shift  which  reacts  upon  society  like 
a  boomerang. 

But  it  was  not  the  aim  to  air  views  on  criminology  and 
penology  in  a  preface,  though  it  has  seemed  appropriate  that 
the   intelligence   of  interested   men   and   women   should   be    ap- 


12 


pealed  to,  as  the  widespread  use  of  the  following  idioms  has  a 
deep  significance.  If  this  work  achieves  no  other  result  than 
this  it  should  be  regarded  as  well  worth  while. 

C.    R.    HELLYER 
City  Detective  Dept.,  Portland,  Ore. 
and     LOUIS  E.  JACKSON, 

Portland,  Oregon,  October  3rd,  1914. 


Should  you  find  any  terms  missing  from  the  following  vo- 
cabulary which  in  your  opinion  should  be  included  in  it  you  will 
confer  a  favor  by  communicating  same  to  the  publisher. 

W.  H.  THORNTON, 
872  Brooklyn  St.,  Portland,  Ore. 


18 


A  Vocabulary  of    Criiiiiital  Slan^ 

Alphabetically     Arranged 

>^itli  Practical  Examples 

of    Commoii    Usages 


ADMAN,  Noun 


Current  amongst  literary  confidence  men.     A  fake  adver- 
tising  solicitor.     See   "HUNDRED  PER  CENT." 


ANGEL,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  financial  backer.  Derived  from  "good 
thing." 

ARM  MAN,  Noun 

Current  amongst  "heavyweights."  A  strong  arm  man;  a 
holdup;   a  highway  robber.     See  "PUTEMUP." 

ARTILLERY,  Noun 

In  general  currency.  Firearms  of  any  description.  See 
"ROD,"   "ROSCOE,"   "SMOKEWAGON." 

B.  A.,  Noun 

Current  amongst  literary  confidence  men.  A  book  agent 
who  commonly  employs  confidence  methods  for  obtaining 
subscriptions  or  orders. 


16 


BADGE,  Noun 


Current  amongst  "hustlers"  and  the  demi-monde.  A 
badger;  a  blackmailer;  an  extortioner.  See  "SHAKE- 
DOWN." 


BALLY  HOO,  Noun 

Current  amongst  exhibition  and  "flat-joint"  grafters.  A 
free  entertainment  used  for  a  decoy  to  attract  customers. 
See  "READER." 


BANNER,  Noun 

General  currency.  Used  in  the  colloquialism  "carrying  the 
banner,"  meaning  to  walk  the  streets  all  night  or  other- 
wise endure  the  hardship  of  loss  of  sleep. 


BATCH,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  number;  a  quantity:  a  lot;  a  great 
many. 

BELCH,  Noun 

In  general  usage  with  all  grafters.  A  protest;  a  com- 
plaint. See  "SQUAWK,"  "ROAR,"  "HOLLER."  Example: 
"When  he  blowed  his  dough  he  put  up  an  awful  belch." 

BELCH,  Verb 

Idem  Supra.  Example:  "He  cannot  stand  the  gaff  with- 
out belching."  Also  used  to  denote  the  giving  of  informa- 
tion.    See  "COME  THROUGH." 

BEN,  Noun 

General  usage.  An  overcoat;  derived  from  Benjamin,  in 
reference  to  the  biblical  coat  of  many  colors. 


16 


BENNY,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  sack  coat;  derived  from  Benjamin, 
some  say  the  biblical  character,  while  others  say  the 
New  York  manufacturer  of  men's  garments. 

BENT,  Adjective 

General  usage.  Crooked;  larcenous.  See  "TWISTED." 
Example:      "His  kisser  shows   that  he's   bent." 

BIG  TOP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  circus  grafters  and  "open-air  men."  The 
large  tent  used  by  circuses;  now  evolved  to  include  the 
meeting  of  the  maximum  exhibit  possible  in  any  given 
case.  Example:  "I'm  flopping  at  the  big  top,"  i.  e.,  "1 
am  rooming  at  the  biggest  hotel  in  town." 

BIT,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  portion;  a  division;  a  share  or  a  part 
of  anything,  as  profits  or  proceeds  of  a  transaction.  Ex- 
ample: "You're  supposed  to  be  in  on  anything  that  comes 
off,  so  you're  entitled  to  your  bit." 

BIT,  Noun 

General  usage,  particularly  amongst  grafters  who  operate 
on  the  outside  of  the  law.  A  prison  sentence.  Example: 
"He  did  a  bit  in  Joliet."  Also  a  share.  See  "END." 
Example:  "If  you  don't  take  a  chance  you're  entitled  to 
no  bit." 


BLOCK,  Noun 


General  usage.  A  watch.  See  "SUPER,"  "TURNIP." 
Example:  "The  wire  rung  six  blocks  in  the  breaks,"  i.  e., 
"The  tool  (pickpocket)  detached  six  watches  from  their 
rings  in  the  crowded  exit."  As  a  noun  it  has  another 
meaning,  i.  e.,  a  head.  See  "NOODLE."  Example:  "He 
got  his  block  sapped,"  i.  e.,  struck. 


17 


BLOOMER,  Noun 

Current  with  genteel  grafters.     An  error;   a  failure.     Ex- 
ample:    "We  framed  wrong  and  scored  a  bloomer." 


BLOW,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  cease;  to  get  away;  to  lose;  to  miss 
something  absent.  Examples:  "Blow!  here  comes  a  bull." 
"We  bio  wed  some  kale  that  night"  (spent  it).  "Just  as 
the  touch  was  scored  the  boob  blowed  his  poke."  "A 
shilliber's  work  is  to  cop  and  blow,"  1.  e.,  to  take  and  give 
in  a  gambling,  ostensibly  winning  and  losing  in  good  faith 
from  and  to  a  confederate. 


BLOW  CARD,  Noun 

Current  amongst  gamblers  and  genteel  grafters.  Any  use- 
less thing  or  condition;  financial  embarrassment;  the  last 
card;  the  final  play  or  thing  in  any  series.  Examples: 
"Don't  connect  with  this  wop,  he  is  on  the  blow  card," 
i.  e.,  broke.     "Pull  this  one  off  and  call  it  the  blow  card." 

BOOB,  Noun 

In  general  usage  amongst  all  sophisticated  classes.  An 
inferior  in  any  specific  sense;  a  victim;  an  unitiated 
person  when  used  by  a  "gonif."     Derived  from  booby. 

BOOSTER,  Noun 

Used  by  confidential  grafters.  One  who  endorses  a  person, 
thing  or  action  of  immoral  nature  either  by  complimentary 
action  or  by  moral  support;   a  helper;   a  confederate. 

BOOSTER,  Noun 

In  general  currency  amongst  "gonif s."  A  shoplifter;  a 
thief  who  operates  in  merchandise  stores  in  daytime.  A 
"Boost"  is  an  assistance;  "The  Boost"  is  the  shoplifting 
profession. 


18 


BREAKS,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  Any  place  of  exit  where 
throngs  of  people  pour  through  en  stream,  as  from  a 
theatre,  from  a  convention  or  other  popular  gathering,  or 
from  a  street  or  railroad  car  or  from  a  boat,  all  of  which 
afford  facilities  for  the  pickpocket  to  operate  under  cover 
and  in  the  press  of  unusual  excitement.  Example:  "The 
guns  are  rooting  into  the  swell  mob  at  the  Grand  Opera 
breaks." 

BREAK  UP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  thieves  who  specialize  in  plunder  or  loot. 
Melted  silver  or  gold.     See  "MELT." 


BREEZE,  Noun 

General   usage. 


Loquacity;    guile;    "hot   air;"   bull    con." 


BREEZE,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  deceive;  to  beguile;  to  occupy  one's 
attention;  to  descant  loquaciously.  Example:  "She 
breezed  everybody  on  the  line."  Also  to  move  on,  to 
leave,  to  come  in  or  go  out.     See  "BLOW." 

BREECH  (britch),  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets  chiefly.  The  rear  pants 
pockets,  designated  right  and  left  breech,  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  front  pants  pockets,  for  which  see 
"KICK."  Example:  "Fan  his  right  breech  for  a  leather," 
i.  e.,  "Feel  of  his  right  hip  pocket  for  a  pocketbook." 

BROAD,  Noun 

Current  amongst  genteel  grafters  chiefly.  A  female  con- 
federate; a  female  companion;  a  woman  of  loose  morals. 
See  "DONY,"  "FLUZIE,"  "MUFF."  Broad  is  derived 
from  the  far-fetched  metaphor  of  "meal  ticket,"  signifying 
a  female  provider  for  a  pimp,  from  the  fanciful  corre- 
spondence of  a  meal  ticket  to  a  railroad  or  other  ticket, 
which  latter  originally   was  exclusively   used   by   "gonifs" 


19 


to  indicate  "broad,"  or  a  conductor's  hat  check.  Also  a 
playing  card  from  the  deck  of  fifty-two.  A  "three-card 
monte  man"  is  a  "BROAD  SPIELER";  "Tipping  the 
broads'  is  riding  on  a  purchased  transportation  ticket; 
"Beating  the  broads"  is  corrupting  the  conductor  or  other 
collecting   functionaire  of  a  transportation   line. 


BUCK,   Noun 


Current  generally.  A  dollar.  Example:  "They  tax  you 
one  buck  for  a  room  without  a  bath  at  the  cheapest  hotel 
in  the  burg." 


BUFFALO,  Noun 

General  usage  in  the  northern  states.  A  negro.  See 
"DINGE." 

BUFFALO,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  bluff;  to  intimidate;  to  frighten.  Ex- 
ample:     "The  dick  buffaloed  him  into  tipping  his  plant." 

BUG,  Noun 

Used  by  alms  beggars.  A  fearful  looking  sore  artificially 
produced  to  simulate  a  burn  or  scald  by  the  use  of  Span- 
ish blister. 


BULL,  Noun 

General  usage.  Misrepresentation;  a  lie;  deception. 
Probably  derived  from  the  financial  term  bull,  which  in 
polite  and  legal  circles  signifies  inflation,  optimism.  See 
"BREEZE."  Also  used  to  indicate  an  officer  of  the  law 
whose  function  is  to  apprehend  or  arrest,  whether  a  con- 
stable, marshal,  sheriff,  detective  or  policeman. 

BULL  CON,  Noun 
Supra  idem. 


20 


BUMP,  Verb 

Current  amongst  heavyweights  and  desperate  characters 
chiefly,  though  understood  by  grafters  generally.  To  kill; 
reflectively  it  signifies  suicide.  Examples:  "He  bumped 
himself  off  when  he  saw  that  the  game  was  up."  "He 
copped  a  cuter  and  got  bumped  making  a  get-away." 

BUNCO,   Noun 

General  currency.     Deceit.     Derived  from  "BUNCOMBE." 

BUNK,  Noun 

In  general  currency.  Deceit;  ostentation.  Derived  by 
corruption  of  form  while  retaining  the  meaning  of 
"Bunco,"  a  contraction  of  buncombe.  Example:  "If  you 
fall  for  this  bunk  you're  a  simp." 


BUNK,  Verb 


General  usage.  To  employ  misrepresentation;  to  defraud; 
to  cheat;  to  establish  confidential  relations  with  intent  to 
abuse  the  influence  so  acquired.  Example:  "The  frame- 
up  in  the  play  was  to  bunk  the  sucker  with  protection 
and  scare  team  work." 


BURNEYS,  Noun 

Current  amongst  "hop-heads,"  dope  flends.  A  catarrh 
powder  containing  an  illicit  proportion  of  cocaine,  used 
as  a  snulT,  administered  with  a  combination  detachable 
rubber  and  glass  blowing  tube. 


BUZZARD,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  A  timid  or  amateur  or  low- 
life  "gun"  who  operates  on  "molls,"  women.  Example: 
"The  moll  buzzards  tore  into  the  jam  at  the  market  house 
on  Saturday  night  and  glommed  a  batch  of  pokes." 


21 


BUZZER,  Noun 

Current  mainly  in  western  circles.  An  officer's  badge  or 
star,  the  insignia  of  authority.  Example:  "Who  are  you? 
says  he.  For  reply  I  flashed  my  buzzer."  Derived,  doubt- 
less, from  the  metal  disc  toy  with  starlike  points  which 
revolves  by  pulling  crossed  strings  which  pass  through  it. 

CAN,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  place  of  confinement;  a  prison;  a  cell. 
A  practical  metaphor  for  a  receptacle  designed  to  confine 
or  bottle  humans.  Also  a  lavatory,  toilet,  urinal.  Example: 
"He  rumbled  and  made  the  can."     See  "CANISTER." 

CAN,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  discharge;  to  eliminate.  Derived  from 
the  prankish  cruelty  of  tieing  a  tin  can  to  a  dog's  tail, 
whose  effectual  purpose  is  to  get  rid  of  a  useless  or  un- 
desirable object.  Example:  "He  made  so  many  bad 
breaks  we  had  to  can  him." 

CANISTER,  Noun 

Current  chiefly  amongst  prison  habitues.  A  prison.  Also 
in  use  amongst  crooks  who  resort  to  the  use  of  weapons, 
denoting  a  firearm.  Example:  "He'll  stick  his  hands  up 
if  you  flash  the  canister." 

CANNON,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  revolver.  In  pickpocket  parlance  it 
signifles  a  pickpocket  of  indefinite  order.  See  "GUN," 
"GONIF." 

CASES,  Noun 

General  usage.  Observation;  scrutiny;  survey.  Example: 
"Keep  cases  on  his  actions  and  you  will  learn  his  mo- 
tive." Also  an  ultimate,  a  finality,  the  last  of  a  series  of 
things  or  actions.  Example:  "He  hasn't  turned  a  trick 
for  so  long  that  he  is  down  to  cases."     The  term  is  de- 


22 


rived  from  gambler's  parlance;  in  faro  bank  the  recording 
of  cards  turned  out  of  the  dealer's  box  is  denominated 
"keeping  cases,"  whilst  the  last  card  to  remain  in  the 
box  is  called  the  "case  card."  "Down  to  cases"  is  used 
to  signify  that  the  cards  are  all  dealt  and  played;  the 
money  or  resources  at  an  end. 

CASE,  Verb 

General  usage.     To  watch;  to  observe;   to  scrutinize. 

CAT  HOP,  Noun 

Current   amongst  gamblers.     See  "KITTY  HOP." 

CENTURY,  Noun 

General  usage.     A  hundred;    a  hundred   dollar  bill. 

CHIP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  burglars  and  store  prowlers.  A  cash- 
box;  a  till;  a  cash  drawer  without  belling  device.  A  cash 
receptacle  with  belling  device  is  called  a  "combination 
chip,"  or  a  "damper,"  or  a  "dinger."  Example:  "He 
copped  a  heel  on  the  chip  and  glommed  a  century." 

CHIV,  Noun 

In  general  use  amongst  yeggs  and  rough-neck  criminals. 
A  knife;  a  sharp-edged  tool  or  weapon.  Derived  from 
the  French  word  "chef,"  by  reason  of  a  cook's  use  of  a 
carving  knife,  though  the  French  term  for  knife  is  "canif." 

CHIV,  Verb 

Supra  idem.  To  cut;  to  slash;  used  only  in  regard  to  an 
attack  upon  a  human.  Example:  "Beware  of  that  geezer 
that  he  does  not  chiv  you." 

CHOP,  Verb 

General  usage.     To   quit;    to   cease. 


23 


CHUMP,  Noun 

General  usage.  An  unsophisticated  individual;  a  victim; 
an  inferior;  an  "angel";  a  "captain."     See  "JOHN." 

CLATTER,  Noun 

General  usage.     A  patrol   wagon. 

CLAW,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  The  "tool";  the  "jerve"; 
the  "wire" ;  or  the  expert  operator  in  a  "gun  mob"  who 
lifts  the  money  and  valuable  collateral  from  the  victim's 
person.  Example:  "Our  mob  is  working  under  one  of 
the  speediest  claws  in  the  country." 

CLAW,  Verb 

General  usage.     To  snatch;   to  appropriate;   to  annex. 

CLEAN,  Adjective 

General  usage.  A  state  of  financial  embarrassment;  ex- 
hausted supply  of  a  given  property.  Example:  "He 
wasn't  very  dirty  when  he  got  in  town,  but  he  is  thor- 
oughly clean  now." 

CLEAN,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  take  all  one  possesses  of  a  given 
commodity;  to  deplete  one's  assets.  Example:  "He 
headed  in  wrong  with  that  bunch  and  got  cleaned."  Also 
used  by  exponents  of  the  art  of  self-defense  to  indicate 
the  infliction  of  defeat  upon  an  opponent.  Example:  "He 
made  a  pass  at  me  and  I  cleaned  him  in  one,  two,  three." 

CLOUT,  Verb 

Tn  currency  amongst  the  plunderbund.  To  purloin  any 
kind  of  valuables  in  any  manner. 


24 


COME-ON,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  prospective  victim;  a  "steered"  pros- 
pect. 

COME  THROUGH,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  give  up,  to  deliver,  to  surrender  any 
secret  information  or  any  material  goods  demanded.  Ex- 
ample: "After  I  showed  him  the  situation  was  in  our 
hands  he  came  through  with  the  dope."  In  pickpocket 
parlance  "to  come  through"  describes  a  function  of  one  of 
the  "wire's"  "stalls,"  consisting  of  a  frontal  attack  or 
sudden  onslaught  upon  an  intended  victim  with  the  pur- 
pose of  bewildering  the  latter  in  order  that  the  "wire" 
may  operate  upon  the  victim  from  the  rear;  or,  the  rela- 
tive positions  may  be  reversed,  when  the  "stall"  should 
"come  through"  from  the  rear.  Example:  "Precede  this 
mark  through  the  car  door,  wheel  and  come  through  just 
as  he  descends  the  steps." 

CON,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  convict;  a  lie;  a  misrepresentation. 
See   "BUNK." 

CON,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  ingratiate;  to  establish  confidential 
relations.     See   "BUNK." 

COP,  Noun 

General  currency.     A  policeman. 

COP,  Verb 

General  usage.  See  "CLOUT."  Cop  is  an  old  Cockney 
flash-word  and  signifies  capture;  conquer.  Example: 
"Booze  and  the  blowers  (women)  cops  the  lot." 

COPPER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  prison  habitues.  The  commutation  or 
good  time  allowed  prisoners  for  good  behavior.  Example: 
"You  grab  one  month  copper  off  the  first  year," 


26 


COSE,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  five-centpiece.  "Cosan"  is  a  ten-cent- 
piece. 

CRACK,  Verb 

General  usage.     To  talk.     For  example  see  "EYE  FULL." 

CRAB,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  grouchy,  stingy  person;  of  inferior 
quality  in  intellectuality  or   habits.     See   "PIKER." 

CRAB,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  spoil  or  ruin  or  render  impossible 
any  plan  of  action.  Example:  "This  fink  crabbed  the 
play  and  we  went  on  the  nut  for  a  double  saw-buck." 

CRAP,  Noun 

General  usage.  Treachery.  See  "BUNK,"  "BULL." 
"CON." 

CREEP,  Verb 

Current  amongst  prowlers  and  panel-joint  workers.  To 
use  stealth;    to  crawl. 

CREEP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  crooked  pimps.  A  creeper,  a  crawler 
who  searches  the  clothes  of  a  victim  while  the  latter  is 
abed  with  the  creep's  paramour. 


CROKE,  Verb 


General  usage.  Passively  it  means  to  die;  actively  it  is 
used  as  an  elegant  expression  for  murder.  Examples: 
"He  croked  himself  with  bichloride."  "The  copper  got 
croked  in  the  jack-pot." 


26 


CRIMPY,  Adjective 

Used  by  yeggs  principally.     Cold,  applied  to  the  weather. 

CROKER,  Noun 

General  usage.     A  physyician. 

CROSSLOTS,  Adverb 

In  use  amongst  yeggs,  hobos  and  the  meandering  un- 
employed. Cross-country;  away  from  frequented  routes 
of  traffic;  by  star  route.  Example:  "In  the  get-away 
they   hammed   twenty   miles   cross   lots." 

CROW,  Adjective 

Current  amongst  shoplifters  and  pennyweighters.  Poor; 
mean;  trivial;  insignificant;  worthless.  Example:  "There's 
a  bale  of  slum  in  the  joint,  but  it's  all  crow." 

CROWNS,  Noun 

Used  by  drug  fiends.     Same  as  "BURNEYS." 

CRUSH,  Noun 

General  usage.     A   forcible  entry  or  exit.     Also  as   verb. 

CUT  TO  THE  BRAKES,  Verb 

Current  amongst  gamblers  and  ready-money  grafters.  Re- 
ducing action  to  its  lowest  terms;  displaying  only  the 
essential.  Example:  "The  mark  stalled  to  the  can, 
gunned  his  soft  and  cut  to  the  breaks,"  i.  e.,  "The  victim 
retired  to  the  lavatoiy,  inspected  his  bank-roll  and  separ- 
ated the  amount  required  to  finance  the  intended  opera- 
tion." 

CUTER,  Noun 

Used  by  gamblers  and  western  criminals.  A  surprise;  a 
fool;  a  josh;  "a  boob."  For  example  of  first-cited  value 
see   "BUMP." 


27 


DAMPER,  Noun 

Used  by  prowlers  and  daylight  "heels."  A  combination 
cash  drawer  or  register.     See  "CHIP." 

DANGLEE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  jewelry  thieves  and  those  who  commit 
larceny  from  the  person.  A  watch  fob;  an  earring;  a 
pendant;  any  article  of  jewelry  which  swings  free  at 
one  end. 

DEAD  ONE,  Noun 

General  usage.  One  who  is  useless  in  any  specific  case; 
out  of  funds. 

DERRICK,  Noun 

Current  amongst  shoplifters  chiefly.  A  "hoister";  a 
"lifter";  a  "booster";  an  "elevator."  Example:  "The 
boosters  are  making  a  plunge  with  a  derrick  ben."  In 
this  sense  it  is  used  as  an  adjective,  but  can  be  trans- 
posed for  "boosters." 

DICK,  Noun 

General   usage.     A   detective.     See    "RICHARD." 

DINGE,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  negro.  See  "BUFFALO." 

DIP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  See  "CLAW";  "WIRE"; 
"JERVE";  "TOOL";  "GUN";  "CANNON";  "GONIF."  A 
common  term  for  a  pickpocket  of  any  degree. 

DISE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  store  burglars,  shoplifters,  and  box-car 
thieves  or  "RAT  WORKERS"   mainly.     A   contraction    of 


merchandise.  Loot;  plunder;  effects  that  can  readily  be 
disposed  of  in  the  market  as  new  goods.  Example: 
"There's  a  mob  riding  the  rattlers  between  here  and  the 
junction  who  have  a  dise  plant  stashed  (cached)  in  the 
jungles." 

DONT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pimps  and  free  lovers  chiefly.  A  female 
member  of  the  demi-monde.  See  "HOOKER"';  "JANE"; 
"FILLY";  "MUFF."  Derived  from  the  Hebrew  "yoni," 
the  female  sex  organ. 

DOSS,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  place  to  sleep;  a  bed.  See  "KIP"; 
"FLOP."  Example:  "Stake  me  to  two-bits  to  get  a  doss." 
Apparently  from  the  French  "je  dors,"  I  sleep. 

DOUBLE,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  conspiracy  to  deceive  or  defraud  a 
victim;  the  "double-cross."  Example:  "He  got  the 
double." 

DUCAT.  Noun 

Current  amongst  genteel  grafters.  A  ticket  of  admission 

or  transportation.     See  "BROAD."  Example:     "The  ducat 

box  was  crushed  last  night,"  i.  e.,  "The  ticket  office  was 
burglarized." 

DUCK,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  retire;  to  leave;  to  flee;  to  dis- 
appear. 


DUKE,  Noun 

Used  by  gamblers  and  genteel  grafters.     A  fist;   a  hand; 
glad  hand;   a  hand  in  a  card  game.     "Reading  the  duke" 


29 


is  fortune-telling  by  palmistry";  "tipping  your  duke"  is 
betraying  your  intention";  "cropping  his  duke"  is  reading 
an  opponent's  hand  by  trickery  in  a  card  game. 


DUKIE,  Noun 


Used  by  yeggmen  and  hobos.     A  hand-out,  or  donation  of 
cold  victuals  to  a  beggar.     See  "LUMP." 


DUMMY,  Noun 


Current    amongst    yeggmen,    hobos    and    prison    habitues. 
Bread.     See  "PUNK." 


DUMP,  Noun 


General   usage.     A   rendezvous;    an   establishment  of 
kind;   a  hangout;   a  joint;   a  meeting  place. 


any 


DRAG,  Noun 


General  currency.  An  influence  with  one  in  authority; 
a  "pull";  a  main  thoroughfare  in  any  community;  the 
main  street.  See  "STEM."  Examples:  "The  boys  are 
pivoting  on  the  main  drag/'  i.  e.,  begging  on  the  street; 
"The  muffs  are  cruising  on  the  drag  tonight,"  i.  e.,  solicit- 
ing on  the  street.  Amongst  female  impersonators  on  the 
stage  and  men  of  dual  sex  instincts  "drag"  denotes  female 
attire  donned  by  a  male.  Example:  "All  the  fagots 
(sissies)  will  be  dressed  in  drag  at  the  ball  tonight." 
Also  an  inhalation  of  smoke,  tobacco  or  opium. 


DROP,  Noun 


General  currency.  An  apprehension  in  criminal  action. 
See  "FALL";  "SNEEZE";  "RUMBLE";  "TUMBLE."  Also 
used  as  a  verb  to  express  the  action  corresponding  to  a 
similar  state.  Example  of  the  latter:  "The  tribe  dropped 
a  man  in  the  day's  work,"  i.  e.,  lost  one  by  arrest.  "We 
had  to  drop  a  stall  for  missing  too  many  meets,"  i.  e.,  dis- 
charged him.  Command  or  control  by  reason  of  advantage 
in  an  exigency  when  shooting  may  be  expected. 


80 


EIGHT  DIE  CASE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  open-air  or  "sure-thing"  grafters.  See 
"FLAT  JOINT."  A  glass  showcase  containing  numbered 
prizes,  as  jewelry  or  gewgaws,  for  which  eight  dice  are 
thrown  by  players,  the  totality  of  spots  on  the  eight  dice 
corresponding  with  the  numbers  on  the  prizes.  The 
secret  of  this  graft  consists  in  the  dealer's  fraudulent 
counting  of  the  spots  arbitrarily  and  disarranging  them 
before  the   victim  can  finish  the  count. 


ELBOW,  Noun 

General  usage  in  cosmopolitan  centers.     A  detective.     See 
"RICHARD" :    "DICK." 


ELEVATOR,  Noun 

In    shoplifter's   and   holdup    men's   parlance.     A   lifter;    a 
booster;  a  bolster;   a  "stick-up"  man.     See  "PUT-EM-UP." 


END,  Noun 


General  currency.     A   share;    a  portion;    a  division.     See 
'BIT. 


<*'DT'n  »» 


EYE  (The),  Noun 

General  currency  amongst  long-odds  criminals.  The 
Pinkerton  Detective  Agency;  an  operative  of  the  Pinker- 
ton  Agency.  Example:  "Blow  this  joint;  it's  protected 
by  the  Eye." 


EYE  FULL,  Noun 

General  usage.  The  object  of  scrutiny  or  of  attentive 
observation.  See  "STRETCHING."  Example:  "Nix 
Crackin'!     The  mark  on  your  left  is  getting  an  eye  full." 


81 


FALL,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  arrest.  See  "RUMBLE";  "DROP." 
Example:  "He  was  soused  when  he  attempted  to  pull 
off  the  stunt  and  got  a  fall."  Used  as  a  verb,  "to  fall  for" 
is  to  be  deceived  by;  to  be  taken  in;   to  be  influenced. 

FALL  DOUGH,  Noun 

Current  amongst  criminals  who  operate  under  clique  or 
fraternal  organization.  A  fund  kept  in  reserve  for  pro- 
tection, to  be  expended  in  procuring  legal  representation, 
bail,  or  bribery  of  officers  or  court  functionaries.  Ex- 
ample: "No  one  can  join  out  unless  he  puts  up  five 
centuries  for  fall  dough." 

FALL  GUY,  Noun 

General  currency.     A  scapegoat;    a  victim.     See  "FALL." 

FAN,  Verb 

In  pickpocket  parlance.  To  surreptitiously  feel  a  victim's 
pockets,  or  inadvertently  brush  the  person  for  the  purpose 
of  locating  an  object  sought,  as  pocketbook,  watch  or 
weapon.     Example:      "Fan  the  pratt  for  a  poke." 

FIEND,  Noun 

Used  by  narcotic  habitues  chiefly.  One  addicted  to  the 
use  of  drugs,  as  a  "hop  fiend,"  a  "dope  fiend." 

FILL,  Verb 

General  currency  amongst  gang  criminals.  To  join  a  mob, 
as  of  guns,  or  of  confidence  men,  and  thus  fill  a  vacancy 
in  the  organization.  Example:  "If  you  know  a  good 
man  who  can  make  a  fill  steer  him  in." 

FILLY,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  young  woman  of  questionable  morals, 
not  necessarily  criminal  bv  choice  but  potentially  so.  See 
"SKIRT";    "JANE";    "MUFF." 


FINGER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  criminals  who  localize  more  or  less  ex- 
tensively. See  "STOOL."  An  informer;  an  investigator 
for  officers.  Example:  "He  got  the  push  sneezed  by 
mixing  with  a  finger." 

FINGER  PRINT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  confidence  crooks  who  specialize  in  paper 
securities  or  signed  orders  for  merchandise  or  service.  A 
signature;  an  endorsement.  Example:  "Put  your  finger 
print  on  this  line."     See  "JOHN  HANCOCK." 

FINK,  Noun 

Current  chiefiy  in  eastern  criminal  circles.  An  unreliable 
confederate  or  incompetent  sympathizer.  See  "CRAB"; 
"LOB."  Example:  "We  staked  him  to  a  day's  work  for 
a  try-out,  but  he  proved  to  be  a  fink." 

FISH  EYE,  Noun 

General  currency.     A  diamond.     See  "PROP." 

FIX,  Noun 

Used  in  general  criminal  parlance.  A  condition  of  se- 
curity where  grafters  may  operate  with  impunity.  Ex- 
ample:    "Don't  pay  any  attention  to  the  bulls;  it's  a  fix." 

FIXER,  Noun 

General  currency.  One  who  acts  as  go-between  for  thieves 
and  bribe  takers.  Example:  "If  you  get  a  rumble,  send 
for  Jones,  the  mouthpiece;  he's  a  sure-shot  fixer  and  can 
square  anything  short  of  murder." 

FLAGGINGS,  Noun 

Used  by  yeggs  and  hobos.  Meat  of  any  description, 
usually  applied  to  cold  victuals.  Example:  "If  you 
are  not  a  vegetarian,  stay  away  from  that  man's  burg, 
for  flaggings  is   scarce." 


33 


FLAP,  Noun 


Current  amongst  pimps  and  criminals  who  are  contemptu- 
ous of  female  values.  An  opprobrious  epithet  for  loose 
women.    Also  employed  to  designate  the  female  sex  organ. 


FLASH,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  show;  to  exhibit;  to  submit  an 
object  for  inspection. 

FLAT  JOINT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  open-air  sure-thing  men  who  operate  at 
circus  gatherings,  fairs,  carnivals,  any  gaming  establish- 
ment where  fortune  is  presumed  to  wait  upon  skill  com- 
bined with  risk.  The  "TIVOLI";  the  "SWINGING  BALL"; 
the  "SPINDLE";  the  "PINCH  WHEEL";  the  "PAD- 
DLES"; the  "SHELLS";  "THREE  CARD  MONTE";  the 
"EIGHT  DIE  CASE";  the  "FISH  POND";  the  "DISCS" 
are  all  grafting  flat  joints.  The  term  is  derived  from 
the  essentiality  in  all  of  these  crooked  devices  of  a 
counter  or  other  flat  area  across  or  upon  which  the 
swindle  may  be  conducted. 

FLIM,  Noun 

Current  in  polite  criminal  circles.  A  swindle;  a  fraud. 
See   "BUNK";    "TWIST."     Derived   from  "flim-flam." 

FLIM,  VerlD 

Supra  idem.  To  swindle;  to  defraud.  Used  especially  by 
short-change   experts.      See    "LAYING";    "FLOPPER." 

FLOATER,  Noun 

General  currency  in  police  circles.  A  suspended  sentence; 
a  mandatory  order  to  quit  a  community  or  locality.  Ex- 
ample: "The  rap  wasn't  strong  enough,  so  they  took  a 
floater." 


84 


FLOP,  Noun 


Current  amongst  yeggs,  dope  fiends,  prison  habitues  and 
to  some  extent  in  general  use  by  initiates  in  the  mysteries 
of  informal  annexation.  A  bed;  a  place  to  sit,  recline  or 
lie  down.  Also  used  by  short  changers  as  a  synonym  of 
"Aim." 

FLOP,  Verb 

Same  as  above.  To  sit  or  lie  down.  Example:  "Let's 
flop  here  on  the  grass  and  pound  our  ear."  Also  used  by 
money  changers  to  signify  fraud  by  confusion.  Example: 
"There's  a  muff  in  that  candy  store  that  can  be  flopped 
because  she  can't  count  change." 

FLOPPER,  Noun 

In  general  use  by  money  changers,  switchers  ( substi- 
tute rs) ;  fiim-flammers.  See  "LAYING."  Example:  "He 
calls  himself  a  star  flopper,  but  he's  crabbing  a  string  of 
good  lays  by  hyping  with  a  deuce  where  a  saw  buck 
could  be  changed  just  as   readily."     See  "HYPER." 


FRAME,  Noun 


General  currency.  A  prearranged  plan  of  action;  a  secret 
implying  sinister  intention;  a  "frame-up."  The  contrac- 
tion is  used  for  greater  secretiveness,  as  is  the  case  with 
all  terms  which  have  become  the  common  property  of 
both  criminals  and  their  enemies.  Example:  "What's 
the  frame  for  putting  this  one  over?     The  lemon." 


FRISK,  Noun 


General  usage.  A  search;  a  "shake-down";  an  examina- 
tion of  the  contents  of  one's  pockets,  of  a  room,  of  re- 
ceptacles or  of  a  community.  Example:  "Give  him  a 
frisk  and  see  if  he  has  a  rod." 


86 


FRISK,  Verb 


Supra  idem.    Example:     "Frisk  everybody  that  enters  the 
hall." 


FRONT,  Noun 

Some  general  currency,  but  used  mainly  by  crooks  whose 
operations  require  a  shield  or  distraction.  An  auxiliary 
defense;  a  "stall";  a  secondary  who  interposes  his  person 
or  contributes  overtly  to  a  surreptitious  action.  Example: 
"Give  me  a  front  here  till  I  nick  this  leather." 


FRONT,  Verb 


See  above.  To  hide;  to  conceal  a  principal  in  open 
criminal  action.  See  "STALL."  Example:  "Front  me 
out  of  this  joint  and  don't  lose  my  left  wing." 


FLUZIE,  Noun 


Current  in   the  cosmopolitan   demi-monde.     A   woman;    a 
questionable  female  character.    See  "DONY";  "HOOKER." 


GAFF,  Noun 


In  general  currency.  An  offensive  action,  thing  or  condi- 
tion, of  vague,  complex  or  undetermined  meaning.  It  is 
variously  employed  or  construed  to  mean  defeat,  punish- 
ment, failure,  or  the  instruments  of  these.  Example: 
"There'll  be  no  hop-heads  joining  out  with  this  mob,  for 
they  can't  stand  the  gaff." 


GANDER,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  inquisitorial  glance;  a  searching 
look;  an  impertinent  gazing  or  staring.  Also  the  simple 
act  of  looking  or  seeing.  See  "RUBBER";  "EYE  FULL." 
Example:  "Take  a  gander  at  this  dump  as  we  pass,  and 
don't  get  the  eye  of  the  guinea  inside." 


36 


GAP,  Noun 

Supra  idem.     General  currency.     Used  also  as  a  verb. 

GASH,  Noun 

General    currency.      An    invidious    term    for    woman;    sy- 
nonymous with   flap,   which  see. 

GAT,  Noun 

General  usage.     A  gun;  a  pistol;  a  firearm.     See  "ROD"; 
"ROSCOE."     Derived   from  "Gatling." 

GAZABO,  Noun 

In  general  use,  but  originating  in  the  East.     A  man;   any 
man  without  regard  to  qualities. 

GAZUNY,  Noun 

Supra  idem.     Current  in  ultra  slangy  circles.     A  man. 

GEEZER,  Noun 

General  circulation.    A  drink  of  liquor;  a  man  (contemptu- 
ously). 

GINK,  Noun 

General  currency.     Synonymous  with  "gazabo,"  "gazuny," 
"gink." 


GLIM,  Noun 


General  usage.  A  light;  a  lamp;  a  match.  Also  used  as 
a  verb,  signifying  illuminated.  Example:  "Go  and  take 
a  pike  (peek)  at  the  dump  and  see  if  it's  glimmed." 


GLIMS,  Noun 


General  currency.     A  pair  of  spectacles  or  nose   glasses. 
See  "SCENERIES":    "RINGERS." 


37 


GLOM,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  grab;  to  snatch;  to  take;  implying 
violence.  Example:  "Glom  this  short  and  drop  off  two 
blocks  below." 

GOBBLED,  Verb,  Past  Part. 

General  currency.     Arrested.     See  "NAILED." 

GONGER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  opium  smokers  and  drug  fiends.  An 
opium  pipe.  Also  used  in  the  diminutive  form  of  "GON- 
GERINE." 

GONIF,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  thief  of  any  class;  a  pickpocket. 
The  term  is  taken  intact  from  the  Hebrew  and  is  used 
mostly  by  pickpockets.  See  "GUN";  "CANNON";  "BUZ- 
ZARD."    Also  a  verb,  to  rob. 

GOOSEBERRY,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs,  hobos  and  meanderers.  A  clothes- 
line; laundry  hung  up  to  dry.  Example:  "He  prowled  a 
gooseberry  for  a  skin." 


GOPHER,  Noun 

Current  amongst   yeggs   chiefly.     A   safe;    a  strong   box. 
See  "PETE." 


GRAB,  Verb 

General  currency.  Passively  it  signifies  arrested;  actively 
it  signifies  the  imperfect  past  action  of  arresting  or  seiz- 
ing. Example:  "Steer  clear  of  the  tip:  It's  made  and 
you  are  liable  to  get  grabbed."  See  "GLOMMED"; 
"SNEEZEZD." 


S8 


GRIFT,  Noun 

General  usage.  Graft;  an  opportunity  for  plying  criminal 
talents.  Example:  "How's  grift  on  the  shorts  in  the 
winter?     Crow.     Too  many   togs." 

GROUCH  BAG,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs  and  western  thieves.  A  place,  as 
a  pocket  or  receptacle,  for  concealing  money  or  valuables; 
a  reserve  fund  held  in  secret  to  the  exclusion  of  fratern- 
ists.     Example:      "He's  under  cover  with  a  grouch   bag." 

GUFF,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs,  sailors,  and  old-timers.  Palaver; 
conversation;  a  contumelious  synonym  for  egotism.  See 
"BREEZE." 


GUINEA,  Noun 

General  usage.  In  the  sense  of  a  man  it  is  synonymous 
with  "gazabo,"  "gink,"  "mark";  it  also  means  an  Italian, 
as  well  as  Europeans  generally. 


GUMP,   Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs,  hobos  and  peripatetics  generally. 
A  chicken;  a  fowl.  Examples:  "We're  going  down  in  the 
jungles  and  have  a  gump  stew." 

GUM  SHOE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  detective;  a  silent  trailer.  See 
"PUSSY  FOOT." 


GUN,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets  chiefly,  though  enjoying 
familiar  usage  in  general  circles.  A  pickpocket.  See 
"CANNON";    "GONIF." 


89 


GUN,  Verb 


General  usage.  To  watch;  to  scrutinize.  See  "GAN- 
DER"; "GAP."  Used  both  as  verb  and  noun  to  express 
action  or  thing.  Examples:  "Nix!  There's  a  dick  on 
the  corner  gunning  us."     "He's  giving  us  a  gun." 


GUN  MAN,  Noun 

General  currency.    A  gun  fighter. 


GUNNELS,  Noun 

Used  by  all  classes  of  criminals  who  beat  their  way  on 
trains.  The  curved  trusses  extending  from  end  to  end 
underneath  both  freight  and  passenger  cars.  Example: 
"The  only  way  you  can  ride  this  rattler  tonight  is  to 
make  the  gunnels  or  the  rods." 


GUNSHEL,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs  chiefly.  A  boy;  a  youth;  a 
neophyte  of  trampdom.  Example:  "The  tribe's  got  a 
gunshel  pivoting  on  the  stem  with  a  bug,"  i.  e.,  "The 
gang  of  tramps  have  sent  a  boy  up  on  the  main  street 
to  beg  under  pretense  of  having  a  wounded  or  disabled 
arm  or  limb."  The  term  "bug"  is  derived  from  railroad 
parlance,  denoting  a  signal  attached  to  the  front  of  the 
engine  as  an  indication  of  the  train's  nature,  attracting 
attention. 


GUTS,  Noun 

General  currency.  Nerve;  "sand";  ability  to  withstand 
the  most  powerful  emotions.  A  metaphor  derived  from 
the  common  experience  of  depressing  sensation  con- 
comitant with  an  inrush  of  the  violent  emotions  of  fear, 
horror  or  other  moral  obstructions.  To  have  "guts"  is  to 
be  unencumbered  with  conscientious  scruples  relative  to 
the  object  contemplated.     Amongst  yeggs  and  others  fa- 


40 


miliar  with  clandestine  railroading  the  "guts"  signifies  the 
various  construtcive  parts  underneath  a  car,  or  the  hidden 
essentials  of  rolling  stock.  Example:  "We'll  ride  the 
guts  tonight  over  this  division,"  i.  e.,  the  gunnels,  rods, 
brake-beams,  trucks. 


GUY,  Noun 


Eastern    currency    mainly.      A    man.      "TO    GUY"    is    to 
ridicule. 


GYP,  Noun 


Current  in  polite  circles.  The  act  of  short-changing;  a 
duplicity;  a  defrauding  by  substitution;  an  action  that 
belies  a  professed  sincerity.  Example:  "Look  out  for 
this  guy,  he's  a  clever  agent  to  slip  you  a  gyp."  Derived 
from  the  popular  experience  with  thieving  Gypsies. 


GYP,  Verb 


Some  general  currency,  but  especially  significant  amongst 
short  changers.  To  flim-flam;  to  cheat  by  means  of  guile 
and  manual  dexterity.  See  "HYPE";  "FLOP";  "LAY- 
ING." Example:  "Gyp  this  boob  with  a  deuce."  Also 
used  by  "fiat-joint"  grafters,  comprehending  the  general 
meaning  of  face-to-face  criminal  transactions. 


HABIT,  Noun 


Current  amongst  dope  fiends.  Necessity  for  opiates;  a 
craving;  the  condition  produced  by  habitual  indulgence  in 
drugs.  See  "YEN-YEN."  Example:  "I  must  drop  into 
the  hotel  donegan  (lavatory)  and  fire  (take  a  hypodermic 
injection),  for  I  feel  my  habit  coming  on." 


HACK,  Noun 


Current  amongst  yeggmen  and  prowlers,  in  general.  A 
night  watchman;  a  night  policeman  or  marshal.  Most 
usually  it  signifies  the  watchman  of  a  building.     Used  as 


41 


a  verb  in  the  past  participle  it  describes  the  accomplished 
function  of  a  night  watchman.  Example:  "The  joint's 
hacked  but  not  kipped,"  i.  e.,  watched  but  not  occupied 
by  a  sleeper. 


HAM,  Verb 


General  usage.    To  walk.    Example:     "If  we  get  a  tumble, 
it's  a  case  of  ham." 


HANDLES,  Nonn 

Limited  usage,  chiefly  by  criminals  who  understand  more 
or  less  about  physiognomical  description  and  disguises. 
Side-whiskers;    "mutton   chops." 


HANKY  PANK,  Noun 

Current  in  polite  slangy  circles.  Insincere  or  trifling 
small  talk;  flattery;  garrulousness.  See  "BREEZE"; 
"BULL." 


HARDWARE,  Noun 

Current  chiefly  amongst  merchandise  thieves.  Weapons; 
knives;  razors;  tools  and  paraphernalia  used  by  safe- 
crackers and  forcible  entry  prowlers.  Used  by  holdup 
men  to  signify  a  weapon.  Example:  "Fan  him  for  hard- 
ware." 


HARNESS,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  uniform;  a  shoplifter's  equipment 
for  concealing  merchandise.  A  "harness  bull"  is  the 
commonest  form  of  the  term's  use,  signifying  a  uniformed 
policeman  in  contradistinction  to  a  plain  clothes  officer  or 
detective. 


42 


HARP,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  Irishman;  used  principally  to  desig- 
nate the  raw  type. 

HARPOON,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  metaphor  for  lampoon;  used  as  a 
verb  it  signifies  to  "give  a  person  the  worst  of  it."  See 
"GAFF." 

HATCH,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  calaboose;  a  prison;  police  station;  a 
jail.  Derived  from  the  nautical  term  "booby-hatch."  See 
"CAN"';  "WICKY."  Example:  "The  only  way  he  can  be 
sprung  is  to  crush  the  hatch." 

HEAVY  WEIGHT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  long-odds  crooks.  A  desperate  thief;  a 
husky  capable  of  delivering  a  dangerous  attack  in  the 
event  of  personal  encounter;  a  yegg;  a  burglar;  a  "stick- 
up  man." 


HEEL,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  incompetent;  an  undesirable;  an 
inefficient  or  pusillanimous  pretender  to  sterling  criminal 
qualifications.  See  "FINK";  "DEAD  ONE";  "CRAB"; 
"LOB."  Used  also  in  the  sense  of  "sneak"  as  noun  and 
verb,  to  stalk. 

HEP,  Noun 

General  circulation.  Sapiency;  understanding;  "next"; 
"on."  Derived  from  the  name  of  a  fabulous  detective  who 
operated  in  Cincinnati,  the  legend  has  it,  who  knew  so 
much  about  criminality  and  criminals  that  his  patronymic 
became  a  byword  for  the  last  thing  in  wisdom  of  illicit 
possibilities.     Example:      "Chop  the   skirmish;    he's  hep." 


43 


HICKS,  Noun 


Current  amongst  "sure-thing"  grafters.  The  walnut 
husks  used  in  the  three  shell  and  pea  game.  Example: 
"This  proposition  is  as  sure  as  fate  and  as  strong  as  the 
hicks." 


HIP,  Noun 


General  currency.  A  burden;  an  attachment;  a  responsi- 
bility; an  incubus.  Examples:  "I  can't  see  you  tonight; 
I've  got  a  Jane  on  my  hip."  "What's  the  use  of  taking 
more  on  your  hip?"  Also  used  to  denote  being  shadowed 
or  followed.  Example:  "Don't  round,  we've  got  some- 
body on  our  hip."  Always  used  colloquially.  Also  current 
amongst  opium  smokers,  designating  the  act  of  lying  on 
the  side  to  smoke  the  "pipe." 


HIRAM,  Noun 


Current  chiefly  amongst  yeggmen.  A  metaphor  taken 
from  masonry  to  signify  initiation  into  the  secrets  of  the 
yegg  profession.  A  synonym  for  yegg,  adopted  when  the 
latter  term  acquired  too  much  notoriety.  Example:  "By 
way  of  the  Hiram!"  An  exclamatory  challenge  or  pass- 
word used  for  a  "feeler"  to  probe  the  state  of  mind  of 
the  encountered  one. 


HOBO,  Noun 


General    usage.      A    tramp,    not    necessarily    of    criminal 
tendencies. 


HOIST,  Noun 


Current  amongst  shoplifters  mainly.  The  profession  of 
shoplifting.  See  "BOOST";  "DERRICK"."  Example: 
"What's  his  grift?     He's  on   the   hoist." 


44 


HOOKS,  Noun 

Current  amongst  shoplifters.  A  set  of  steel  hooks  shaped 
like  the  letter  "U,"  fastened  through  the  cloth  of  a  heavy 
"boosting  ben"  under  the  armpits;  concealed  from  the 
outside  view  by  a  pad  of  cloth  similar  in  pattern  to  the 
cloth  of  the  coat  and  having  the  inner  arm  of  the  hook 
filed  to  a  needle-like  sharpness;  upon  the  hook  merchan- 
dise may  be  hung,  or  slung  around  the  operator's  back 
and  suspended  from  both  hooks.  When  not  in  use  the 
hooks'  sharp  points  are  sheathed  in  cork  to  prevent  injury 
to  the  person.  They  are  instantaneously  detachable  and 
may  be  "sloughed"  by  an  expert  without  detection. 
"Hooks"  also  signifies  the  worst  of  a  bargain.  "HOOK' 
means  a  thief;   "HOOKY"  is  larcenous. 

HOOKER,  Noun 

General  currency.    A  prostitute.     See  "DONY"';  "FLUZY." 

HOLLER,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  protest;  a  vehement  refutation.  See 
"BELCH";  "WOLF";  "SQUAWK."  Example:  "Did  the 
sucker  make  a  holler?  Sure  he  rumbled  the  touch  before 
we  blowed  the  joint  and  made  a  roar." 

HOMBRE,  Noun 

Western  usage.     A  man.    From  the  Spanish  for  man. 


HOPSCOTCH,  Verl) 

General   usage.     To   jump  or  travel   about  from   place   to 
place. 


45 


HOOP,  Noun 


General  currency,  though  used  most  frequently  by  "short- 
odds"  grafters  who  practice  merchandising  by  unlicensed 
solicitation.  A  finger  ring.  A  "phony  hoop"  is  a  gold- 
plated  ring.  Grafters  of  mediocre  intellectuality  seek  pro- 
tection from  apprehension  for  vagrancy  by  carrying  a 
stock  of  "hoops,"  "glims"  and  "supers,"  or  "blocks" 
(watches).  Not  to  be  confounded  with  the  jovial  ex- 
clamation, "Whoops!  my  dear,"  of  fairies  and  theatrical 
characters. 


HOP  MERCHANT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  drug  habitues.  A  dispenser  of  opium 
and  opiates.  Usually  applied  to  drug  peddlers  who  have 
no  established  headquarters,  but  are   itinerant. 


HUCKS,  Noun 


Current  amongst  "sure-thing"  grafters.  The  walnut  shells 
used  in  the  three  shell  game.  See  "HICKS";  "NUTS." 
Example:  "We'll  make  the  ball  game  on  Sunday  and 
play   the  bucks." 

HUMP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  prison  habitues.  The  middle  of  a  term; 
the  half-way  point  in  a  prison  sentence.  Example:  "How 
long  have  you  got  yet  on  your  bit?  I'm  just  over  the 
hump." 

HUNCH,  Noun 

General  usage.     An  inspiration;   an  intuition;    an  "office." 

HUNDRED  PER  CENT,  Noun 

Used  by  sure-thing  admen,  by  confidence  grafters  who 
maintain  the  plausible  appearance  of  giving  value  for 
moneys  received,  but  who  in  reality  give  nothing.  Fake 
advertising  is  the  principal  hundred  per  cent  graft. 


46 


HUNKIE,  Noun 

Current  in  localities  where  North  European  laborers 
abound.  A  corruption  of  Hungarian,  but  employed  to 
signify  a  Continental  European  who  is  unwashed  and  un- 
naturalized. 


HUSTLER,  Noun 

General  currency.     A  grafter;   a  pimp  who  steals  betimes. 
The  genteel  thief  is  designated  a  "hustler." 


HYPER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  money-changers.  A  flim-flammer;  a 
layer  of  currency,  that  is,  one  who  makes  a  purchase  and 
tenders  a  bank  note  and  after  receiving  proper  change 
pretends  to  discover  the  exact  amount  of  change  required 
to  pay  for  the  goods  purchased  and  thereupon  declares 
his  preference  for  the  bank  note  rather  than  for  the 
change.  In  the  exchange  he  strives  to  confuse  the  oblig- 
ing changemaker  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  an  excess 
of  his  proper  due.  Or,  the  "hyper"  requests  a  bank  note 
for  subsidiary  coin  and  upon  being  accommodated  osten- 
tatiously seals  the  bank  note  in  an  addressed  envelope. 
The  merchant  discovers  that  the  subsidiary  coin  is  less 
than  the  stated  amount  and  demands  his  bank  note,  where- 
upon a  substitute  envelope  is  tendered  by  the  "hyper" 
with  a  request  that  he  hold  it  until  the  "hyper"  returns 
to  his  home  and  secures  the  additional  small  change. 
There  are  other  systems  of  the  "hyper"  in  vogue,  but  the 
principle  is  the  same  in  all. 

IN  DUTCH,  Adverb 

General  usage.     Mistaken;   in  trouble.     See  "JACK  POT." 


47 


JAB,  Noun 

Current  amongst  morphine  and  cocaine  fiends.  A  hypo- 
dermic   injection. 

JACKPOT,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  dilemma;  a  difficult  strait;  a  retribu- 
tion; trouble;  an  arrest.  See  "JINX";  "IN  DUTCH." 
Example:  "Where's  Joe?  He  pulled  a  raw-jaw  stunt  and 
made  a  jackpot." 

JAKE,  Noun 

General  currency  amongst  cosmopolitan  crooks.  The  state 
of  knowing;  familiarity  with  a  secret  or  a  scheme  or 
meaning.  See  "HEP";  "JOE."  Example:  "You're  mak- 
ing a  boob  out  of  yourself;  he's  Jake  to  the  whole  works." 
As  an  adjective  "jake"  means  good;  satisfactory;  ac- 
ceptable; all-right. 

JAMB,  Noun 

Current  chiefly  amongst  yeggs  and  prowlers.  The  state 
of  being  closed,  as  a  store  or  house;  locked  up;  inaccess- 
ible. See  "Sloughed,"  not  in  the  sense  of  "sluffed"  as  the 
same  word  is  sometimes  used,  though  with  the  latter  pro- 
nunciation while  retaining  the  former  spelling.  Example: 
"The  front's  in  the  jamb;  try  the  rear."  Also  used  to 
signify  trouble   in  the   sense  of  "JACK  POT." 

JANE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  woman,  though  not  in  any  opprobri- 
ous sense;  the  sexual  complement  of  the  term  "JOHN,"  a 
man. 


48 


JERVE,  Noun 


Current  amongst  pickpockets.  A  vest  pocket;  the  "tool"; 
the  "wire";  the  "claw"  in  a  gun  mob.  Examples:  "Go 
after  the  left  jerve  for  a  bundle  of  scratch."  "The  Jerve 
was  nailed  bang  to  rights  coming  through  the  tip." 


JESSIE,  NoTin 


General   currency.     A    bluff;    a   threat.     Example:      "He 
rang  in  a  Jessie  and  got  away  with  it." 


JIG,  Noun 


General  currency.     An   affair;    a  misfortune;    a  mistake. 
Example:     "He  used  bad  judgment  and  got  into  a  jig." 


JIGGER,  Noun 


Current  amongst  yeggs  and  tramps.  A  fake  wound,  burn, 
scald,  or  other  crippled  condition.  See  "BUG";  "P.P." 
Example:     "They're  all  jigger  bums." 


JIGGER,  Verb 


Supra  idem.  An  exclamation  of  warning;  an  Injunction 
to  cease;  to  mar;  to  spoil;  to  deface  or  derange.  Ex- 
amples: "Jigger!  The  bull's  coming."  "You've  jiggered 
the  lock." 


JIM,  Noun 


General   currency.     A  cheap,   inferior  or  worthless  thing. 
Contraction  of  "JIM   CROW."     See   "CROW." 


JIM,  Verb 


General  currency.     A  synonym  for  "JIGGER."     Example: 
"Lay  off!     You'll  jim  the  whole  works." 


49 


JIMMY,  Noun 


Used  mainly  by  yeggs  and  prowlers.  A  burglar's  tool. 
A  short,  powerful  chisel  or  lever  used  by  thieves  for 
prying  doors  and  v/indows  open. 

JIMMY,  Verb 

Supra  idem.  To  pry  or  wrench  loose  with  any  instru- 
ment. 

JINKS,  JINX,  Noun 

General  usage.     In  difficult  straits.     See  "IN  DUTCH." 


JITNEY,  Noun 


General  currency.  A  nickel;  a  dime;  a  small  coin;  a 
picayune.  Used  variously  to  signify  an  extremity  in 
finance.    Example:     "Break  away;  he  hasn't  got  a  jitney." 


JOE,  Noun 


General  currency  in  polite  criminal  circles.  Wise;  sophis- 
ticated. See  "Hep,"  of  which  "JOE"  and  "JAKE"  are 
subdivisions  or  contractions  or  substitutions. 


JOHN,  Noun 


General  currency  amongst  the  demi-monde.  A  "captain"; 
a  "sucker"  -,  an  amorous  fool  with  money  and  free  love 
proclivities.  Also  a  man  in  a  contemptuous  sense.  Ex- 
amples: "She's  got  a  John  keeping  her."  "Ask  this  John 
what  time  the  train  starts." 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  Noun 

Current  amongst  confidence  men  and  paper  grafters  gen- 
erally. A  signature.  Derived  from  the  common  observa- 
tion that  John  Hancock,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  wrote  a 
massive,  extremely  legible  hand.     See  "FINGER  PRINT." 


50 


JOINT,  Noun 


General  currency.  A  business  establishment;  a  hangout. 
Sometimes  used  as  a  synonym  of  "DUMP,"  though  it  does 
not  necessarily  imply  meanness  or  disrepute.  Example: 
"Let's  drop  in  this  joint  and  buy  a  suit  of  clothes." 


JOLT,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  prison  sentence;  a  penalization;  a 
blow;  a  physical  or  moral  jar.  Example:  "He  did  a  jolt 
nncfi   hftfnrp  in   .Tnliet." 


JOHN  O'BRIEN,  Noun 

Current  generally.  A  freight  train,  used  in  contradistinc- 
tion to  a  "RATTLER,"  a  passenger  train.  Example: 
"You  can  see  by  his  clothes  that  he  has  been  riding  John 
O's."    Amongst  "yeggs"  it  signifies  also  a  moneyless  safe. 


JUG,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  prison;  a  bank;  a  secret  receptacle 
for  money  or  compact  valuables.  Example:  "Tail  this 
mark  to  the  jug  and  case  what  he  draws,"  i.  e.,  "observe 
what  money  he  draws." 


JUNGLE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs.  A  loafing  place  or  hang  out  be- 
yond a  city's  limits,  whether  in  the  woods  or  not.  An 
isolated  or  little  frequented   spot. 


JUNK,  Noun 

General  currency.  Inferior  goods;  any  property  of  rela- 
tive worthlessness.  Example:  "Everything  in  his  keister 
is  junk." 


51 


KALE,  Noun 


General  currency.  Bank  notes;  money  of  any  kind. 
Evolved  from  the  term  "GREEN  GOODS,"  the  latter 
metaphor  for  money  being  derived  from  the  greenish 
aspect  of  currency.  Example:  "He's  got  a  bundle  of 
kale  that  would  choke  a  cow." 


KEISTER,  Nonn 

General  < 
Example: 
keisters." 


General  currency.  A  satchel;  a  handbag;  a  small  grip. 
Example:  "What's  his  grift?  He  prowls  the  depots  for 
keisters." 


KICK,  Noun 


Some  general  currency,  but  employed  most  effectively  by 
pickpockets.  In  common  usage  it  signifies  a  pocket,  any 
pocket;  amongst  "guns"  it  is  used  exclusively  to  signify  a 
front  pants  pocket.     Also  a  protest,  a  "squawk." 


KINK,  Noun 


General  circulation.  A  crook;  a  larcenous  criminal. 
See  "HOOK";  "HUSTLER."  Example:  "Are  there  any 
kinks  in  the  joint?"  Also  used  by  yeggs  to  designate  a 
non-criminal  tramp,  or  one  who  is  not  initiated  into  the 
particular  craft  of  the  speaker.  In  this  latter  sense  the 
term  is  derived  from  the  epithet  "gay-cat,"  meaning  a 
"working  plug."  Example:  "Cut  him  out;  he's  got 
forty-seven  kinks  in  his  tail." 


KIP,  Noun 


General  usage.  A  bed;  a  place  to  sleep.  See  "PAD"; 
"DOSS";  "FLOP."  Used  also  as  a  verb,  to  sleep,  to  go 
to  bed,  etc. 


KISSER,  Noun 

General  circulation.  The  countenance.  See  "MOOSH"; 
"MUG."  Example:  "You'll  recognize  him  by  his  hatchet 
kisser." 


KITTY  HOP,  Noun 

Current  chiefly  amongst  gamblers.  A  heads-I-win-tails- 
you-lose  situation  or  proposition;  a  "double-cross";  a 
"frame-up,"  in  which  "both  ends  may  be  played  against 
the  middle."  Also  used  to  indicate  a  practical  joke. 
Example:  "We  got  the  skirt  to  frame  a  kitty  hop  for 
him  and  he  fell  for  it." 


LACE,  Verb 


General  currency.  To  slam;  to  punch;  to  beat  unmerci- 
fully. Example:  "The  three  dicks  laced  him  like  a  foot- 
ball and  then  squared  it  by  throwing  an  order  of  ham  and 
eggs  under  his  belt." 


LAG,  Noun 


Current  amongst  statutory  criminals.  A  prison  sentence 
of  one  year;  sometimes  used  to  signify  an  indefinite  term 
of  years  in  prison.  The  "STRETCH"  better  expresses  the 
latter  sentence  of  penal  servitude.  Example:  "He's  do- 
ing a  lag  in  the  little  can."  Also  used  as  a  verb  as  the 
equivalent  of  "RAILROADING"  a  criminal  to  prison. 


LAM,  Noun 


General  currency.     A  hasty  get-away;    a  running  escape. 
Example:     "He  heeled  to  the  door  and  made  a  lam." 


LAM,  Verb 


General    usage.      To    run;    to    flee.      Most   frequently    em- 
ployed in  the  imperative  mood. 


53 


LAMISTER,  Noun 

Supra   idem.     A   corruption    of   "LAM."      Also   a   fugitive 
from  justice.     Example:   "He's  a  lamister  out  of  Chicago." 


LAMOS,  Adjective 

General  currencj'.  Gold-plated;  flimsy;  unsubstantial.  De- 
rived from  the  name  of  a  firm  of  Chicago  jewelers  who 
supplied  the  cheap  jewelry  trade  with  "PHONIES,"  or 
fake  jewelry.  Example:  "You  can't  hock  it  for  two- 
bits:  it's  lamos."  Also  used  to  signify  inferior  personal 
qualities. 


LAYING   OUT,    Verb,    Present   Part. 

Current  amongst  prowlers  and  sneak  thieves.  To  watch 
from  ambush;  to  spy  upon  a  person  or  establishment. 
Example:  "To  get  this  dump  right  we'll  have  to  lay  out 
on  it  every  night  for  a  week  and  make  the  doings." 


LAYING  (NOTES),  Verb,  Present  Part. 

Current  amongst  flim-flammers.  To  make  fraudulent 
change;  to  cheat  by  the  ruse  of  substitution.  The  latter 
craft  is  denominated  "LAYING  THE  ENVELOPE." 


LEATHER,  Noun 

Some  general  currency,  but  used  chiefly  by  pickpockets. 
A  pocketbook;  a  wallet;  a  billhook.  See  "POKE."  Ex- 
ample:    "He  has  an  inside  leather." 


LEARY,  Adjective 

General  usage.     Afraid;   anxious;    anticipatory. 

54 


LEMON,  Noun 


Current  chiefly  amongst  bunco  men.  A  confidence  game 
in  which  skill  at  pool  is  the  bait,  though  its  successful 
negotiation  is  based  upon  the  dishonesty  or  avarice  of  the 
victim.  See  "WIRE";  "SPUD."  A  lemon  joint  is  a 
crooked  pool  and  billiard  room.  Lately  evolved  to  com- 
prehend the  general  meaning  of  a  disappointment,  a  com- 
mercial illusion.  In  this  regard  "lemon"  is  used  in  the 
deprecating  sense  conveyed  by  the  term  "gold  mine." 
Example:  "Lemons  are  selling  in  the  open  market  for 
thirty  cents  a  dozen,  but  this  one  cost  me  a  hundred  iron 
men." 


LIVE  ONE,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  informed  individual;  a  prospectively 
profitable  victim;  an  ambitious  or  keenly  alert  person. 
Example:  "If  we  put  this  live  one  through  the  sprouts 
we  throw  our  feet  under  the  mahogany  at  the  big  top  all 
the  rest  of  the  winter." 


LOB,  Noun 


General  currency  amongst  better  informed  crooks.  An 
awkward  craftsman;  a  delinquent;  an  opprobrious  char- 
atcer  amongst  thieves.  Contracted  from  "LOBSTER," 
which  in  turn  is  a  metaphor  derived  by  suggestion  from 
"CRAB,"  the  latter  symbolizing  backward  action  or  the 
propensity  for  reluctant  participation.  "LOBBY  GOW" 
is  another  form  of  the  same  term,  used  principally  by 
confidence  and  "flat-joint"  grafters  to  signify  a  minor 
confederate,  or  "booster." 


LOADING,  Verb,  Present  Part. 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  The  act  of  following,  es- 
corting or  forcibly  jamming  passengers  aboard  a  street  or 
passenger  car  or  up  any  flight  of  steps,  as  the  entrance 
to  an  elevated   railroad   station;    the   purpose  of   "LOAD- 


55 


ING"  is  to  take  advantage  of  unsuspecting  eagerness  on 
the  part  of  passengers  so  that  violent  extraction  of  valu- 
ables from  pockets  shall  scarcely  be  heeded.  Example: 
"We  were  loading  'em  on  for  two  hours  steady  in  the 
Sunday  excursion  pushes," 


LOCO,  Adverb 


Current  chiefly  in  western  circles,  though  not  used  ex- 
clusively by  criminals.  Slightly  erratic  in  mental  pro- 
cesses. The  Spanish  value  of  the  term  is  "crazy,"  but  by 
American  criminal  adoption  it  has  been  modified  to  com- 
prehend just  less  than  that.     See  "NUTS." 


LOSER,  Noun 


Current  amongst  prison  habitues.  An  ex-convict.  See 
"Con."  Examples:  "Three  time  losers  cop  life  in  some 
states." 


LUMP,  Noun 


Current  chiefly  amongst  yeggs,  hobos  and  the  indigent. 
A  donation  of  victuals  intended  for  consumption  outside 
the  house.  But  alas!  lumps  are  sometimes  impaled  on  the 
fence  pickets  by  fastidious  beggars  who  become  offended 
at  the  failure  of  well  meaning  but  non-intuitive  philan- 
thropists to  invite  them  in  to  eat  at  the  table.  This  lat- 
ter operation  is  gratefully  termed  a  "sit-down." 


MAC,  Noun 


General  currency.  A  pimp;  a  lover  of  a  lewd  woman.  A 
man  who  lives  upon  the  earnings  of  a  prostitute.  De- 
rived from  the  French  term  "Macquereau." 


MAIN  STEM,  Noun 

General    currency.      The    main    thoroughfare    of    a    com- 
munity.    See  "DRAG." 


66 


MAKE,  Verb 


General  currency.  To  recognize;  to  discern;  to  solve;  to 
acquire  in  an  intellectual  sense.  See  "RAP."  Example: 
"You  had  better  ring  up  (disguise)  so  he  won't  make  you." 


MARK,  Noun 

General  circulation.     A  man;   a  prospective  victim. 


MATCH,  Noun 

Current  amongst  confidence  men.  A  bunco  game  similar 
in  nature  to  the  "LEMON,"  but  in  which  coins  are 
matched;  the  fraud  consisting  in  treachery  on  the  part 
of  the  confidence  man  who  steers  the  victim  with  the 
professed  intention  of  betraying  his  de  facto  confederate. 

MEAL  TICKET,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  female  of  the  open  market  who  sup- 
ports a  lover;  any  gratituous  source  of  subsistence.  Ex- 
ample: "The  stiff  won't  put  up  his  back  so  long  as  he's 
got  a  meal  ticket." 

MEIG,  Noun 

General  currency  amongst  cosmopolitans.  A  nickel;  a 
five-cent  piece.  See  "JITNEY."  Sometimes  used  to  indi- 
cate the  minimum  basis  of  exchange  medium,  the  cent, 
as  a  hundred  meigs,  fifty  meigs,  etc.  Example:  "What's 
the  tax  for  the  scof fin's?     Twenty-five  meigs." 

MELT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  loothunters,  but  pennyweighters  and 
other  jewelry  thieves  particularly.  Precious  metals  that 
may  be  melted  in  a  crucible  to  make  identity  difficult  or 
impossible.  See  "BREAK  UP."  Example:  "The  swag 
netted  a  melt  of  a  thousand  dollars." 


67 


M'GIMP,  MEGIMP,  Noun 

Current    in    western    circles.      A    pimp;    a    lover    in    the 
vicious  meaning.     See  "MAC." 


MICHAEL,  Noun 

Current  amongst  bottle  drinkers.     A  flask  of  liquor.     Ex- 
ample:  "Have  you  got  a  michael  on  your  hip?" 


MICHIGAN,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  spectacular  ruse;  a  deceptive  ap- 
pearance, as  a  fake  bank  roll;  a  hoax  staged  with  sinister 
intent.  Example:  "They  started  a  michigan  scrap  and 
trimmed  the  sucker  in  the  mix-up." 


MICKY,  Noun 

Current     amongst     bottle     drinkers.       A     corruption     of 
"MICHAEL." 


MILL,  Verb 

General  currency,  but  of  western  origin.  To  amble  around 
aimlessly;  to  exercise  by  walking.  Example:  "We  milled 
around  town  all  day  without  turning  a  trick." 


MITT,  Noun 

Current  chiefly  amongst  gamblers  when  the  sense  is  a 
hand  of  cards.  The  "MITT"  is  a  confidence  game  of  the 
same  nature  as  the  "LEMON"  or  the  "MATCH,"  involving 
a  double  cross.  Also  a  card  hand  in  any  square  game. 
In  general  currency  it  means  both  the  human  hand  and 
any  scheme,  system  or  personal  character.  See  "DUKE." 
Amongst  prison  habitues  the  "MITTS"  signify  handcuffs. 


58 


Example:  "If  he  spiels  long  enough  he'll  tip  his  mitt.'" 
"They  framed  a  strong  mitt  for  him  and  beat  him  for  half 
a  century."  A  "MITT  JOINT"  is  a  gambling  house  where 
victims  are  "steered"  for  fleecing  by  means  of  deceptively 
"sure  thing"  hands. 


MOB,  Noun 


General  currency.  Two  or  more  confederates  joined  to- 
gether for  nefarious  practices.  Used  most  frequently  to 
designate  a  gang  of  pickpockets,  a  "GUN  MOB." 


MOCHA,  Noun 


Current  amongst  shoplifters.  Cloth;  a  suit  pattern.  Ex- 
ample: "I  know  a  derrick  who'll  peddle  a  mocha  for  a 
finif." 


MOLL,  Noun 


General    currency.      A    woman,    regardless    of    character. 
See  "JANE." 


MONACRE,  MONACKER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs  and  registering  itinerants.  A  nick- 
name; a  professional  cognomen.  A  corruption  of  the 
term  "monogram,"  devised  to  meet  the  contingencies  aris- 
ing out  of  the  oft  requested  information:  "What's  your 
handle?"  Example:  "You'll  have  to  look  in  the  cook  book 
to  find  a  fancy  monacker,  for  all  the  ready  ones  are  ap- 
propriated, judging  by  the  register  on  this  tank." 


MONKEY,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  man,  used  in  the  mildly  indifferent 
sense  of  a  stranger.  See  "GEEZER,"  "GAZABO,"  etc. 
Sometimes  used  to  signify  a  "BOOB." 


69 


MOOCH,  Noun 

Current  amongst  beggars.    A  mendicant;  an  alms  solicitor. 

MOOCH,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  stroll;  to  move  about  See  "MILL." 
Example:  "Mooch  around  the  block  and  come  back  in  ten 
minutes."    Also,  to  beg. 


MOOSH,  MOUSH,  Noun 

General  circulation.  The  human  face;  the  physiog.  See 
"KISSER."  Also  the  mouth.  Probably  from  French 
bouche  (mouth).  Probably  derived  from  the  French 
"mouchoir,"  a  handkerchief,  suggested  by  its  utilization 
as  a  face  mop.  Example:  "He's  got  a  harp  moosh,"  i.  e., 
Irish. 


M,  or  MORPH,  Noun 

Used  by  morphine  fiends.     Sulphate  of  morphia. 


MOPE,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  walk  away;  to  remove  one's  pres- 
ence to  another  locality  or  spot.  See  "BLOW."  "MOOCH," 
"DUCK." 


MOUSER,  Noun 

Current  in  cosmopolitan  circles.     A   "fairy;"   a  character 
obsessed   by  lewd  passions. 


60 


MOUTHPIECE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  lawyer;  an  advocate;  a  spokesman; 
a  representative.  Example:  "The  fall  dough  is  to  be 
used  exclusively  for  a  mouthpiece  and  nothing  else." 

MUD  FENCE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs,  safecrackers.  A  soap  lip,  a 
trench  of  soap  or  other  plastic  substance  constructed  to 
hold  nitroglycerin  in  funnel  formation  until  it  seeps 
throuh  a  joint  in  a  safe. 

MUSH,  Noun 

General  usage.  An  umbrella.  Example:  "When  you  can't 
do  anything  else  you  can  heel  the  hotels  and  depots  for 
mushes  and  turkeys." 


NAILED,  Verb,  Past  Part. 

General     currency.       Apprehended.       See     "GRABBED," 
"GLOMMED." 


NECKING,  Noun 

General  circulation.  A  scrutiny;  an  impertinent  staring. 
See  "GANDER,"  "RUBBER."  Example:  "The  guinea  on 
the  end  is  giving  you  a  necking  through  the  glass." 
Also  used  as  a  verb,  to  "neck,"  to  peer,  to  watch. 

NEXT,  Adverb 

General  usage.  Conventionally  wise.  A  synonym  for 
"JAKE,"  "JOE,"  "HEP."  Example:  "You  can't  spring 
anything  he  isn't  next  to." 


61 


NICK,  Verb 

Current  mainly  amongst  pickpockets.  To  surreptitiously 
extract  something  from  the  person;  to  "touch"  in  the  crim- 
inal sense;  to  purloin  by  stealth  in  personal  presence  of 
a  victim.  Example:  "This  lob  couldn't  nick  a  handful 
of  air  out  of  a  flour  barrel  without  scratching  his  mitt." 

NINES,  Noun 

Current  amongst  roues  and  cosmopolitans.  The  limit 
possible;  the  maximum  extent.  Example:  "He's  soused 
to  the  nines;"  "That  dony  is  made  up  to  the  nines,"  i.  e., 
artificially  beautified. 

NOODLE,  Noun 

General  currency.  The  human  head;  brains;  savoir  faire; 
mentality.  Example:  "He's  got  a  noodle  like  a  Santa 
Claus,"  1.  e.,  intuition,  perspicacity. 

NUT,  Noun 

Commonly  current  in  all  circles  when  the  meaning  is 
"LOCO."  Used  by  grafters  v/hose  operations  involve  an 
investment  to  signify  an  expense  incurred  in  connection 
with  a  venture.  Example:  "The  grift  was  punk;  we  were 
framed  five  strong  and  never  got  the  nut  off."  "We 
went  on  the  nut  for  two  fifty." 


NUTS,  Noun 

Current  amongst  "flat  joint"  grafters,  though  compre- 
hended in  general.  The  three  shells.  See  "HICKS."  Ex- 
ample: "If  we  can't  beat  the  crap  game  we  will  play  the 
nuts  for  the  winners."  As  an  adjective  and  adverb  it 
sign.fies  daft,  mentally  deranged. 


62 


OFFICE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  signal;  a  sign;  a  warning  conveyed 
by  facial  expression,  by  physical  motion,  by  sound  or 
other  nonchalant  prompting.  Example:  "When  I  give  you 
the  office,  blow."     Used  also  as  a  verb  in  the  same  sense. 


ON,  Adverb 

General  currency.  Wise.  A  synonym  for  "NEXT." 
"JAKE."  Also  used  to  indicate  an  acceptance,  as  of  a 
proposition.     Example:    "You're  on  for  five  hundred." 


OPEN  AIR,  Noun 

Current  amongst  "flat  joint"  men  and  circus  grafters  gen- 
erally. Used  both  as  adjective  and  noun.  County  fair, 
street  carnival,  popular  sport  gathering  and  other  out-of- 
door  grafting. 


OVER  ISSUE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  confidence  men  of  the  "green  goods" 
type.  A  bunco  scheme  involving  the  use  of  crisp,  new 
legitimate  bank  notes  which  are  purported  to  have  been 
clandestinely  issued  by  employees  of  the  Bureau  of  En- 
graving and  Printing.  One  or  two  of  the  notes  are  given 
the  victim  who  is  then  steered  to  a  confederate  who 
poses  as  a  detective.  The  latter  professes  to  recognize 
the  principal  in  the  bunco  as  an  ex-convict  and  counter- 
feiter. The  upshot  of  the  scheme  is  the  "shaking  down" 
of  the  victim  for  all  he  possesses  and  is  successfully  car- 
ried out  through  the  victim's  fear  induced  by  conscious- 
ness of  criminal  complicity. 


68 


PAD,  Noun 

General  circulation.  A  bed;  a  place  to  sleep.  See  "KIP;" 
"DOSS." 

PADDED,  Verb,  Past  Part. 

Current  amongst  shoplifters.  To  have  swag  concealed 
about  the  person  in  a  neat,  compact  order  so  as  to  enable 
the  thief  to  pass  inspection.  Example:  "He  moped  out  of 
the  joint  padded  to  the  nines." 

PAN,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  scandalize;  to  defame.  Example: 
"They  panned  everybody  to  a  whisper."  "ON  THE  PAN" 
signifies  a  subject  on  the  carpet  for  discussion. 

PAPER  HANGER,  Noun 

Current  principally  amongst  forgers  and  utterers  of  false 
paper.  Example:  "There's  a  bunch  of  paper  hangers 
plastering  the  town  from  A  to  Izzard." 

PETE,  PETER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs.  A  safe;  a  strong  box;  a 
"GOPHER."  Example:  "The  pete  in  the  pig  is  a  single 
H.  H.  with  a  drop,"  i.  e.,  "The  safe  in  the  hardware  store 
is  a  single  door,  Herring-Hall  with  a  drop  handle." 
Amongst  gamblers  and  badgers  a  "peter"  is  a  sleeping 
potion,  a  "knockout,"  such  as  hydrate  of  chloral. 

PIG,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs  and  prowlers.  A  hardware  store; 
the  merchandise  sold  by  hardware  stores,  preferably  the 
more  valuable  assortments.     Deduced:    "Hardware":   steel 


64 


tools,  steel,  iron,  pig  iron.     Example; 
drop  a  swag  of  pig." 


'He's  gone  out  to 


PINCH,  Noun 


Current  amongst  "flat  joint"  grafters.  A  wheel  of  fortune 
or  a  roulette  wheel  that  can  be  stopped  at  any  point  de- 
sired by  operating  a  secret  trigger  or  spring.  As  a  noun 
its  use  is  also  general  in  the  sense  of  an  arrest;  the  same 
with  the  verb,  to  pinch. 


PIPE,  Noun 


General  currency.  A  certainty;  a  cinch.  Example:  "It's 
a  pipe  that  he  can't  get  away  with  it."  Derived  from  the 
term  "lead  pipe,"  used  by  highwaymen,  because  its  effec- 
tual employment  involves  a  moral  certainty  that  the 
robber  will   relieve  the  victim  of  his   valuables. 


PIPE,  Verb 

General    currency, 
tion;   to  observe, 
with   the   rocks." 


To    look;    to    concentrate    the    atten- 
See  "GUN."     Example:    "Pipe  the  moll 


PITCH,  Noun 


General  currency.  An  effort;  an  essay;  an  attempt.  See 
"PLUNGE."  A  "HIGH  PITCH"  is  the  term  used  by  street 
fakirs  to  describe  the  operation  of  beguiling  the  public 
from  a  soap  box,  a  platform,  a  carriage  or  automobile; 
selling  merchandise  from  an  eminence  like  an  auctioneer. 


65 


PIVOT,  Verb 

Current  amongst  yeggs  and  street  beggars.  To  solicit 
alms  on  the  thoroughfares.  Used  also  by  "HUSTLERS" 
to  indicate  the  operations  of  a  woman  of  the  town  who 
solicits  on  the  streets. 

PLUNGE,  Noun 

Super  idem.  To  sally  out  on  the  streets  with  a  specific 
aim,  as  in  begging,  soliciting  or  in  other  reprehensible 
conduct.  Example:  "The  whole  tribe  made  a  five  buck 
plunge  to  spring  Jimmy  from  the  canister."  Amongst  non- 
criminal classes  of  the  demi-monde  the  term  is  used  to 
indicate  a  strenuous  endeavor. 

POKE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  pocketbook.  (Poke  a  sack  or  bag. 
"A  pig  in  a  poke.")     See  "LEATHER." 

P.  P.,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs  and  money-begging  tramps.  A 
plaster  of  paris  cast  used  on  arm  or  limb  to  simulate 
fracture.     See   "BUG;"   "JIGGER." 

PRATT,  Noun 

General  usage.  The  human  rear;  the  buttocks;  a  hip 
pocket. 

PROP,  Noun 

General  circulation  amongst  pickpockets  and  looters.  A 
diamond  stud  originally,  now  comprehending  diamonds  in 


66 


any  sense.  See  "FISH  EYE."  Example:  "Any  heel  gun 
can  get  a  breech  poke,  but  it  takes  an  Al  claw  to  grab  a 
prop." 

PROWL,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  expeditionary  investigation;  a  sur- 
vey in  transit;  a  search  of  the  person  or  of  a  place  in 
the  sense  of  "FRISK;"  a  burglary;  a  sneak;  a  saunter. 
Also  used  as  a  verb  in  the  same  senses. 


PUFF,  Notm 

Current  amongst  yeggs.  Powder  used  to  blow  a  safe; 
the  explosion  of  "SOUP"  in  a  safe.  Example:  "The  dump 
was  kipped,  but  we  muffled  the  puff." 

PUNCHING  GUN,  Verb,  Present  Part. 

General  currency.  The  use  of  criminal  slang;  ostenta- 
tious display  of  sophistication.  Example:  "He  can  punch 
gun  till  the  cows  come  home,  but  he  can't  get  a  can  of 
water  out  of  a  water  tank." 

PUNK,  Noun 

General  currency.  Bread.  As  an  adjective  the  term  is 
synonymous  with  "CROW,"  "LAMOS."  Example:  "The 
whole  layout  is  punk."  Also  a  sodomite  youth — a  yegg 
term. 

PUSH:  Noun 

General  currency.    Crowd;  gang;  clique;  mob. 


67 


PUSH  and  SLIDE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  short  changers  and  confidence  men  who 
employ  the  ruse  of  substitution.  A  short  changing  opera- 
tion whereby  money,  currency,  counted  in  the  hand  of  the 
crook  is  afterward  held  out  by  palming,  and  depends  for 
immunity  from  detection  by  a  forcible  pushing  of  the 
residue  of  the  sum  counted  into  the  hand  of  the  victim, 
accompanied  by  a  suggestion  or  urge  to  pocket  the  money 
without  recounting. 

PUSSY  FOOT,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  detective.  See  "RICHARD;" 
"DICK." 

PUT-EM-UP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  heavyweights  mainly.  A  highway  rob- 
ber; a  desperate  criminal  who  is  prepared  to  hold  up  any 
interloper  to  prevent  interference. 

RAG,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  woman.  See  "SKIRT;"  "JANE;" 
"MOLL." 


RAP,  Noun  and  Verb 

General  usage.     An  identification;  a  charge  of  guilt. 

RAT,  Noun 

General  currency.  Passenger  train;  street  car.  A  con- 
traction of  "RATTLER."  Also  an  ignominious  term,  used 
in  the  sense  of  "CRAB." 


RAT  CRUSHER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  heavyweights,  yeggs  and  "dise"  men. 
A  box-car  burglar.  The  terms  "rattler"  and  "John 
O'Brien"  are  used  interchangeably  by  some  criminals,  but 
their  original  significations  are  those  given. 

RATTLER,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  passenger  train;  a  passenger  or 
street  car.  Example:  "The  two  of  us  stalled  the  rattler 
can  on  one  ducat."    Also  a  "RAT  WORKER." 

READER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  "flat  joint"  men  and  peddlers.  A  formal 
license;  a  certificate;  a  written  permit.  Example:  "You 
can't  open  the  ballyhoo  in  this  burg  without  a  reader." 

READERS,  Noun 

Current  amongst  crooked  gamblers.  A  pack  of  marked 
cards,  therefore  readable  from  the  obverse  side.  Exam- 
ple: "How  are  they  working,  with  the  mitt?  No,  with 
the  readers." 

REDUCTION,  Noun 

Current  amongst  dope  fiends.  The  reduction  cure  for  a 
"HABIT."  Example:  "The  only  sensible  way  of  getting 
off  is  on  the  reduction." 

REEF,  Verb 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  To  lift  a  pocket  lining  or 
an  obstacle  in  the  form  of  wearing  apparel  by  methodical 
manner    to    expedite    the    operations    of   the    "WIRE"    or 


"TOOL"  in  a  gun  mob.  Generally  used  in  the  imperative 
mood.  Example:  "Reef  the  right  kick  for  a  tweezer." 
By  this  function  a  pocket  may  be  slowly  turned  inside 
out  without  detection;  it  is  done  in  cases  where  the 
pocket  is  too  deep,  too  tight  or  where  extraordinary  cau- 
tion is  expedient  in  pocket  picking. 


RICHARD,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  detective.  Derived  from  the  process 
of  nicknaming,  but  in  reverse  of  the  usual  custom.  Thus 
from  the  term  "DETECTIVE,"  "DICK"  was  suggested  and 
hence  "RICHARD"  was  derived.  Or,  following  the  corrup- 
tion of  the  English  "Robert"  to  "Bob"  and  "Bobby,"  the 
American   parallel   was   suggested. 


RIGHT,  Adjective 

General  currency.  Sympathetic  in  a  criminal  sense; 
fixed;  squared;  noncondemnatory.  Also  a  synonym  for 
"SQUARE-SHOOTER."  Example:  "He's  as  right  as  a 
golden  guinea.  Slip  him  a  piece  of  soft."  Also  used  as  a 
verb,  to  fix;   to  bribe. 


RINGER,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  similarity;  a  double;  a  disguise;  a 
pair  of  spectacles.  Used  in  the  latter  sense  because  of 
the  wonderful  change  produced  in  one's  aspect  by  the  ad- 
dition of  a  pair  of  nose  glasses  or  spectacles  to  the  per- 
sonal adornment.  Used  also  as  a  verb.  Example:  "They'll 
hardly  make  him  because  he's  rung  up." 


70 


RISER,  Noun 

General  circulation.  An  "eye  opener;"  a  scare;  a  fright; 
any  mental  or  physical  agent  that  moves  to  action.  Ex> 
ample:  "He  got  an  awful  riser  with  that  dick  at  his 
pratt." 

ROAR,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  protest.  See  "SQUAWK;"  "BELCH. ' 
Example:  "If  this  gink  blows  the  touch  he'll  make  an 
awful  roar." 

ROCKS,  Noun 

General  usage.  Diamonds.  In  popular  slang  it  means 
money. 

ROD,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  revolver.  See  "SMOKE  WAGON;' 
"ROSCOE."  Also  used  as  verb,  to  hold  up  at  the  point 
of  a  pistol.  Example:  "Rod  this  guy  right  off  the  jump." 
(Here  as  verb.) 

RODS,  Noun 

In    general    circulation    amongst    "hop    scotchers."      The 
iron   truck   braces   under  a   passenger   coach,    running   at 
right  angles  to  the  length  of  the  car.     A  "ROD  DUCAT" 
-     is  a  small  board  used  as  a  seat  by  truck  riders. 


ROLL,  Verb 


General  usage.  To  search  the  pockets  of  a  sleeping  per- 
son or  of  an  intoxicated  one.  Example:  "He  rolled  a 
stiff  for  a  bundle  of  scratch."  Used  as  a  noun  "ROLL" 
signifies  a  wad  of  money,  as  a  "BANK  ROLL." 


71 


EOSCOE,  Nonn 

Current  amongst  arms-carrying  criminals.  A  revolver. 
See  "CANNON;"  "GAT."  Example:  "Stash  your  roscoe 
before  you  come  back  to  the  kip." 

ROUND,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  turning  of  the  head  to  take  a 
backward  glance;  surveying  the  rear  trail  to  ascertain 
whether  or  not  one  is  being  followed,  or  to  determine  the 
identity  of  a  person  or  object  passed.  Example:  "Stall 
something  to  the  ground  and  take  a  round  at  this  coat- 
maker;"  (trailer  or  taller,  corrupted  to  tailor  and  thence 
coatmaker) . 

ROUST,  Verb 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  To  jam  against  a  victim 
in  a  violent  manner;  to  squeeze  a  victim  between  two 
pickpocket  assistants  in  a  way  to  distract  his  attention 
from  the  principal  in  the  encounter  who  consectaneously 
extracts  the  victim's  valuables  from  a  given  pocket.  In 
the  present  tense  the  term  is  used  in  the  imperative 
mood,  being  a  command  and  an  instruction  of  itself.  Ex- 
ample: "Roust!!"  "Jostle  the  victim  rudely,  but  in  a 
seemingly  unconscious  manner." 

ROUTE,  Verb 

Current  amongst  pickpockets  principally.  To  look  up  and 
make  memoranda  of  dates  of  large  popular  gatherings, 
such  as  conventions,  etc.  This  is  known  as  "Routing  the 
grift."  To  route  is  usually  the  function  of  the  best  mind 
in  a  "gun  mob." 


72 


RUM,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  ignoramus;  an  inefficient.  Derived 
from  tlie  experience  ttiat  "booze"  incapacitates  tlie  mind 
of  a  croolt,  who  to  be  successful  requires  a  quiclc  wit  and 
a  vigilant  grasp  of  situations.  A  synonym  for  "RUM 
DUM,"  that  is,  dumb,  of  slow  wit,  from  the  use  of  rum. 

RUMBLE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  botch  that  precipitates  discovery;  a 
faux  pas;  an  awkward  situation  brought  about  by  fum- 
bling. See  "BLOOMER;"  "TUMBLE;"  "FALL."  Ex- 
ample: "If  you  walk  on  the  main  stem  with  him  you'll 
get  a  rumble."  In  this  sense  the  term  implies  an  identi- 
fication. Also  used  as  a  verb,  to  arouse  suspicion;  to 
be  discovered. 

SANTA  CLAUS,  Noun 

General  currency.    An  ingenious  mind;  an  original  thinker. 

SAPS,  Noun 

General  currency.  Crutches;  clubs  or  sticks  as  weapons 
of  offense.  Derived  from  "sapling."  The  latter  meaning 
may  also  be  employed  in  the  form  of  the  verb,  to  sap, 
to  beat.    Any  bludgeon  is  a  sap. 

SCAT,  Noun 

General  circulation.  Whiskey.  Derived  by  suggestion 
from  "skey"   (skee),  the  termination  of  "whiskey." 

SCOFF,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  eat.  Example:  "When  do  we  scoff 
in  this  dump?"  Also  used  as  a  noun;  a  "scoff"  is  a 
meal,  a  feed. 


73 


SCORE,  Verb 

Current  amongst  pickpockets  and  criminals  who  are 
necessitated  to  make  frequent  repetitions  of  procedure  to 
acquire  means.  To  successfully  negotiate;  to  "make  a 
touch;"  to  "put  one  over.  Example:  "We  scored  seven 
times  in  the  same  joint  by  ringing  up,"  i.  e.,  disguising. 
Also  used  as  a  noun  in  the  same  sense. 

SCRATCH,  Noun 

General  currency  amongst  literate  criminals.  Paper  cur- 
rency; a  letter;  a  signature;  a  writing.  Examples:  "He's 
got  a  bundle  of  scratch,"  (Bank  roll) ;  "The  only  way  you 
can  get  a  knock-down  (introduction)  is  with  a  scratch." 
"The  difficult  thing  is  to  get  his  scratch."  See  "JOHN 
HANCOCK;"  "STIFF." 

SCREW,  Noun 

General  currency  amongst  prison  habitues  and  prowlers. 
A  key;  a  turnkey  or  jailor;  a  prison  guard.  Example: 
"That  bunch  of  screws  you're  carrying  is  a  knock."  "You 
can  get  a  letter  in  through  the  screw;  he's  a  P.  O." 

SCENERIES,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  pair  of  spectacles  or  nose  glasses. 
See  "GLIMS;"  "RINGERS."  Example:  "He's  peddling 
sceneries  and  hoops." 

SEND  IN,  Noun 

General  circulation.  An  indorsement;  a  recommendation. 
Example:  "With  the  proper  send  in  I  can  twist  this 
boob.  Rib  it  up."  Also  used  as  a  verb,  to  laud,  to  praise, 
with  an  ulterior  motive. 


74 


SETTLED,  Verb,  Past  Part. 

General  currency  amongst  outlaw  criminals.  Convicted  of 
misdemeanor  or  statutory  offense.  Example:  "He's  set- 
tled for  a  two  spot."     See  "LAGGED;"   "LOSER." 

SHAGGED,   Verb,   Past  Part. 

General  currency.  Identified;  recognized;  discovered;  ex- 
posed. See  "RAPPED."  Example:  "He  was  shagged 
on  the  first  go." 

SHAKE  DOWN,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  personal  search;  a  deprivation  of 
one's  personal  belongings.  Used  also  as  a  verb.  Ex- 
ample: "If  this  dick  nails  you  you'll  have  to  stand  a 
shake  down." 

SHILLIVER,  SHILLIBER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  criminals  who  employ  "Stalls,"  "boost- 
ers," or  aides.  A  supernumerary;  a  secondary;  an  epi- 
thet applied  to  apprentice  crooks.  To  "SHILL"  is  to  act 
in  the  capacity  of  a  hired  criminal. 

SHONIKER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  cosmopolitan  thieves,  especially  Jews.  A 
neophyte  or  inexperienced  hand  at  the  game.  A  synonym 
for  "SHILLIBER." 

SHOOT,  Verb 

Current  amongst  hypodermic  habitues.  To  inject  mor- 
phine or  other  drug  with  a  syringe.  Example;  "How 
many  times  do  you  shoot  a  day?" 


75 


SHOW,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  keep  an  appointment;  to  present 
oneself  at  a  meeting  place.  Example:  "This  party  can 
never  be  depended  upon  to  show.  He'll  stick  you  nine 
times  in  ten." 

SHORT,  Noun 

Current  chiefly  amongst  pickpockets,  though  used  by  all 
polished  criminals  to  some  extent.  A  street  car.  Derived 
from  the  limited  extent  of  a  street  car  ride  compared  with 
the  distances  negotiable  by  railroad  transportation.  Ex- 
ample: "After  catching  the  breaks  we'll  make  the  shorts 
for  a  half  hour." 

SKIRT,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  woman.  See  "JANE;"  "MUFF;" 
"MOLL." 

SKIN,  Noun 

General  circulation,  A  shirt.  Example:  "Let's  go  down 
to  the  jungles  and  boil  our  skins." 

SLAM,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  Insult;  a  rebuke;  an  insinuation. 
Also  used  in  the  same  sense  as  a  verb  as  well  as  with  the 
meaning  of  violence,  to  deliver  a  vigorous  blow. 

SLANG,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  watch  chain.  A  watch  fob,  as  well 
as  an  ear-ring,  is  called  a  "DANGLER." 


76 


SLOUGH,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  dispose  of;  to  abandon;  to  throw 
away;  to  eliminate;  to  conceal  without  delay  or  fore- 
thought. Example:  "There  isn't  a  mark  of  identification 
on  his  clothes;  he's  sloughed  everything."  In  this  sense 
the  term  is  pronounced  "sluffed."  In  the  sense  of  hiding 
or  getting  rid  of  an  object  instantly  the  same  word  is 
pronounced  "slou,"  with  the  sound  of  "o"  as  in  cow.  To 
"SLOUGH"  also  means  to  close,  to  shut,  as  a  door. 


SLOUGHER,  Nonn 

Current  amongst  plunderbunders.    A  fence;  a  pawnbroker; 
a  middle  man  in  the  disposition  of  contraband. 


SLUM,  Noun 


General  currency.  Jewelry  of  any  description,  but  lately 
reduced  in  scope  of  meaning  to  include  only  the  less  valu- 
able kinds  of  jewelry;  a  synonym  for  "CROW;"  "PUNK." 
Example:     "He's  got  a  bale  of  slum  for  sloughings." 


SMOKE  WAGON,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  firearm;  a  revolver.  See  "ROD;" 
"CANNON." 

SNEEZE,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  be  apprehended;  detained.  See 
"GLOMMED;"  "CRABBED."  Example:  "He  wouldn't 
have  been  sneezed  if  he  had  kept  away  from  that  fluzie." 


77 


SNOW,  Noun 

Current  chiefly  amongst  cocaine  fiends.  Derived  from  the 
extremely  flocculent  nature  of  cocaine  when  pulverized,  in 
which  state  cocaine  is  used  as  a  snuff.  A  "SNOW  BIRD" 
is  the  customary  designation  of  the  cocaine  habitue. 

SOFT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  currency  thieves  and  grafters  who  han- 
dle considerable  sums  of  money.  Paper  money.  See 
"SCRATCH."  Example:  "I  fanned  a  gob  of  soft  in  the 
right  jerve."  As  an  adjective  "soft"  means  easy,  facile, 
felicitous,  comfortable. 

SOUP,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs.  Nitroglycerine.  Example:  "If 
you  drop  that  bottle  of  soup  you'll  grease  the  scenery," 
1.  e.,  be  blown  up. 

SOUTH,  Adverb 

General  circulation.  Stored  away;  concealed,  as  valuables. 
See  "UNDER  COVER."  As  a  verb  the  term  is  employed 
with  the  same  meaning.  Example:  "Keep  tabs  and  see 
that  he  don't  go  south  with  the  dough." 

SPLIT,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  division,  as  of  spoils.  See  "END;" 
"BIT."  Used  as  a  verb  it  indicates  to  divide,  as  money; 
or  to  separate,  as  in  the  sense  of  "SPLIT  OUT,"  or 
"SPLIT  AWAY."  Example:  "The  make  was  split  three 
ways  and  then  we  split  out." 


78 


SPUD,  Noun 

Current  amongst  confidence  men  chiefly.  The  "green 
goods"  bunco;  a  substitution  ruse,  devised  originally  on 
the  basis  of  counterfeit  currency,  hence  the  name  "SPUD," 
derived  by  attribution,  as  in  the  case  of  "KALE."  Any 
confidence  game  in  which  currency  plays  a  prominent 
part  as  a  lure  is  aptly  designated  a  variation  of  the 
"SPUD."  Also  commonly  used  as  a  synonym  for  the 
Irish  potato. 

SQUAB,  Noun 

Current  amongst  libertines  mainly,  A  young  female;  an 
unsophisticated  girl. 

SQUARE  PLUG,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  timorous  person  who  is  in  moral 
sympathy  with  the  criminal  element,  but  lacking  the 
courage  or  inclination  to  actually  participate;  a  harmless 
individual  in  the  view  of  crooks.  Example:  "Don't  be 
leery  of  him;   he's  a  square  plug." 

SQUARE-SHOOTER,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  dependable  person;  a  reliable,  com- 
pact-keeping person;  though  not  necessarily  a  moral,  vir- 
tuous, impeccable  one;  for  it  is  politic  for  even  a  crook  to 
be  a  "square-shooter"  provided  it  be  also  expedient. 

SQUAWK,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  protest;  a  vociferous  demonstration, 
as  an  indignant  repudiation  of  an  injustice.  Also  used  as 
a  verb  in  the  same  sense.  Example:  "If  you  don't  put 
up  a  squawk  they'll  trim  you." 


79 


SQUEEZE,  Noun 

General  circulation.  The  principal  or  manager  of  an  in- 
stitution, an  establishment  or  of  any  undertaking.  A 
contraction  of  the  popular  "MAIN  SQUEEZE,"  meaning 
the  same  as  here  given. 

STAB,  Noun 

General  currency.  An  essay  to  accomplish  a  project;  an 
effort.  See  "PLUNGE."  Also  used  as  a  verb.  Example: 
"I  don't  know  how  it  will  come  out,  but  I'm  going  to 
make  a  stab  at  it."    Also  used  by  dope  fiends  for  "JAB." 

STALL,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  pretense;  an  equivocation;  a  con- 
federate who  distracts  the  attention  of  a  victim  or  mis- 
leads him  to  regrettable  action.  See  "BOOSTER."  Used 
as  a  verb  in  the  same  sense,  to  prevaricate,  to  misrepre- 
sent with  sinister  intent.  The  colloquial  vernacular,  "He's 
got  more  stalls  than  a  livery  stable,"  signifies  that  the 
person  under  discussion  is  a  shifty  agent,  a  colossal  liar. 

STASH,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  hide;  to  conceal;  to  cease  talking; 
to  "plant."  Also  used  as  a  noun  in  the  sense  of  some- 
thing cached.  Example:  "Stash  the  gun  crackin;  there's 
a  knocker  in  the  push." 


STIFF,  Noun 


Current  amongst  literate  criminals  chiefly.  A  piece  of 
paper;  a  letter;  a  ticket;  a  license;  a  permit.  See 
"READER."      Derived    from    the    unpliable    attribute    of 


so 


paper  in  general.  Example:  "I  haven't  had  a  stiff  from 
home  for  two  months."  Also  used  to  designate  a  mean, 
contemptible  person;  sometimes  it  is  employed  as  a  syno- 
nym for  man.     See  "GUY;"  "MARK." 


STIR,  Noun 

General  currency  amongst  prison  habitues.  Penitentiary; 
a  synonym  for  "BIG  HOUSE,"  the  latter  being  employed 
in  contradistinction  to  county  jails,  workhouses  and  police 
stations  when  prison  is  discussed.  Example:  "He's  back 
in  stir  again." 

STEM,  Nonn 

Current  amongst  yeggs.  A  steel  drill.  Amongst  opium 
smokers  the  term  signifies  an  opium  pipe.  See  "GON- 
GER,"     It  also  is  a  snonym  for  "DRAG." 

STRETCH,  Noun 

Current  amongst  prison  habitues.  A  prison  sentence.  See 
"LAG;"  "BIT."  In  general  circles  the  term  signifies  a 
look,  a  glance,  used  as  a  verb  as  well  as  a  noun.  See 
"GANDER;"  "NECK;"  "ROUND." 

STIX,  Noun 

General  currency.     A  pair  of  crutches.     See  "SAPS." 

STRIDES,  Noun 

General    usage.      A    pair   of    trousers.      Example:       "This 


dump  is  an  easy  boost  for  the  strides." 


81 


STRING,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs.  A  fuse.  Example:  "He's  got 
five  yards  of  string  around  the  midriff,"  i.  e.,  wrapped 
around  the  waist  under  the   shirt. 

SUEY  POW,  Noun 

Current  amongst  opium  smolters.  A  sponge  or  rag  used 
to  cool  and  cleanse  the  face  of  an  opium  bowl.  Also  used 
by  the  demi  monde  as  an  equivalent  of  the  term 
"GRANNY." 

'    SURE  THING,  Noua 

Current  amongst  confidence  men  and  "flat  joint"  grafters 
principally.  A  something-for-nothing  proposition.  See 
"HUNDRED  PER  CENT."  Used  as  an  adjective  it  speci- 
fies an  unmitigated  robbery. 

SWEETEN,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  augment;  to  "press"  in  the  gam- 
bler's sense,  as  a  jackpot.  Amongst  the  plunderbund  the 
term  signifies  the  procuring  of  an  additional  loan  on  col- 
lateral.    Also  used   as  a  synonym  for   "BRIBE." 

SWINGING  BALL,  Noun 

Current  amongst  "flat  joint"  grafters.  A  ball  suspended 
from  a  gibbet  by  a  chain  or  string  and  which  is  skillfully 
swung  at  a  wooden  cone  posited  in  the  center  of  the 
ball's  swinging  area,  the  purpose  being  to  avoid  the  cone 
on  the  forward  movement,  and  to  strike  it  upon  the  re- 
bound. Incidentally  the  aim  is  to  relieve  the  inexpert  of 
ready  cash. 


82 


''SWITCH,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  substitute;  to  exchange;  to  vary. 
Example:  "The  only  way  you  can  score  with  the  weight 
in  that  joint  is  with  the  switch,  as  he  has  everything 
cased."     Used  as  a  noun  to  signify  a  substitute. 

TAIL,  Verb 

General  circulation.  To  trail;  to  follow.  Used  as  a  noun 
in  the  same  sense.  Example:  "Be  careful  not  to  bring 
anything  home  on  your  tail,"  i.  e.,  a  shadower. 

TENT,  Noun 

Current  amongst  prison  habitues.  A  cell.  Example: 
"He's  doing  penance  in  a  tent." 

V  THERE,  Adverb 

General  currency.  Informed;  wise;  trained;  artful.  Ex- 
ample:    "He's  there  forty  ways  from  Revelation." 


THIMBLE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  watch.  See  "BLOCK;"  "TURNIP." 
Formerly  the  term  in  the  plural  had  the  signification  of 
"NUTS;"  "HICKS;"  "SHELLS;"  as  these  are  in  use 
today. 


TIN  EAR,  Verb 

General  usage.  To  eavesdrop;  to  listen  impertinently. 
Also  used  as  a  noun.  Example:  "Chop  the  wheeze,  we've 
got  a  tin-ear  on  our  hip." 


83 


TIP,  Noun 

Pickpockets.  A  ticket  office.  The  place  where  obliga- 
tions are  paid  to  a  cashier. 

TOG,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  An  overcoat  used  for  a 
shield.     From  Latin  "Toga,"   a  cloak. 

TOMMY,  Noun 

General  currency  amongst  the  licentious.  A  prostitute. 
See  "DONY." 

TOOL,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  A  pickpocket  proper;  the 
member  of  a  "gun  mob"  who  does  the  "dipping."  Also 
used  as  a  verb  in  the  same  sense. 

TOP,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  execute  by  hanging.  See  "BUMP 
OFF."  Example:  "Carrying  a  rod  is  an  invitation  to 
get  topped." 

TOUCH,  Noun 

Current  mainly  amongst  pickpockets,  though  used  in  a 
milder  sense  in  general  circles.  See  "SCORE."  Example: 
"Any  fink  that  tears  into  that  tip  without  making  a  touch 
ought  to  be  canned."  "He  tried  to  put  the  B.  on  me  for 
the  third  touch  this  week." 


84 


TRIBE,  Noun 

Used  principally  by  yeggs  and  begging  bums,  though  cur- 
rent, too,  amongst  grafters  who  operate  in  cliques.  A 
gang;  a  class.  Example:  "You'll  find  the  tribe  at  the 
joint  when  you  get  there." 


TRIM,  Verb 

General  currency.  To  fleece;  to  cheat;  to  rob  in  any 
manner.  Example:  "If  you  make  a  flash  you're  due  to 
get  trimmed." 


TUMBLE,  Noun 

General  currency.  A  discovery;  an  exposure.  See  "RUM- 
BLE." Example:  "It's  a  bad  idea  to  work  without  fall 
dough,  for  it's  a  ten-to-one  jig  on  the  first  tumble."  Used 
as  a  verb  in  the  same  sense,  as  well  as  to  signify  acquir- 
ing understanding  suddenly. 


TURKEY,  Noun 

General  usage.  A  suit  case;  a  large  traveling  bag.  De- 
rived by  suggestion  from  the  popular  custom  of  stuffing 
a  trunk  full  of  personal  belongings  into  a  suit  case.  In 
noncriminal  circles,  as  well  as  in  criminal,  the  term  has 
a  vague  meaning  of  facileness,  something  easily  or  readily 
accomplished. 


TURNIP,  Noun 

General  currency.     A   pocket  time   piece;    a   watch.     See 
"BLOCK." 


86 


TWEEZER,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  A  small  pocket-book  with 
knob  clasps. 

TWISTED,  Verb,   Past  Part. 

Current  amongst  confidence  men.  To  be  buncoed;  to  be 
deluded  by  a  confidential  snare.  Derived  by  suggestion 
from  the  confusion  created  in  the  understanding  of  a 
victim  in  the  usual  confidence  game.  See  "TRIM."  Ex- 
ample:  "Out  of  six  plays  we  twisted  five  ripe  ones." 


UNDER  COVER,  Adverb 

General  currency.  Protected  financially  by  a  reserve  held 
in  secret;  selfish;  miserly;  illiberal  with  wealth.  See 
"SOUTH."  Example:  "Anybody  in  this  mob  that's  under 
cover  is  running  chances  of  being  prowled." 

UNDERNEATH,  Adverb 

Current  amongst  shoplifters.  A  term  used  to  describe  the 
most  common  method  employed  by  female  shoplifters  of 
concealing  stolen  goods;  i.  e.,  carried  between  the  limbs. 
Example:  "Se  can  go  underneath  with  a  bigger  bunch 
of  junk  than  any  other  moll  I  know." 


UNLOADING,  Verb,  Present  Part. 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  Picking  pockets  in  a  crowd 
as  passengers  alight  from  street  or  railroad  cars.  Ex- 
ample: "We  scored  more  pokes  in  unloading  them  than 
we  did  in  the  breaks." 


WEAVE,  Verb 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  To  sway  a  victim  rudely 
from  right  to  left  between  two  "stalls"  so  that  the  "claw" 
may  operate  without  detection  of  finger  contact.  Ex- 
ample: "Weave!  I've  got  a  tight  breech,"  i.  e.,  "jostle 
the  victim,  I  have  got  my  hand  on  a  pocket  book  that  is 
wedged  too  firmly  in  the  pocket  to  be  pulled  out  without 
the  aid  of  distraction." 

WEIGHT,  Noun 

Used  by  store  jewelry  thieves.   Penny  weigh  ting;  the  "pwt." 

WELCH,  Verb 

Current  in  all  circles.  To  betray  a  professional  confi- 
dence; to  peach;  to  protest.  See  "ROAR."  Example: 
"Unless  you're  nailed  bang  to  rights  don't  welch,  for  the 
first  principle  of  self-defense  in  law  is  to  make  the  other 
fellow  find  out  what  he  wants  to  know  through  some 
one  else." 

WHITE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  morphine  habitues.  Morphine.  Example: 
"How  many  times  a  day  are  you  shooting  the  white?" 

WEED,  Verb 

Current  chiefly  amongst  pickpockets,  though  used  to  some 
extent  by  those  who  are  familiar  with  currency.  To  ex- 
tract any  fraction  from  a  roll  of  bills;  to  withdraw  a  par- 
tial sum  from  the  principal;  to  take  the  essential  and 
leave  the  nonessential,  as  the  money  from  a  pocketbook 
of  miscellaneous  valuables;  to  steal  a  sum  which  will 
hardly  be  missed  because  of  its  proportion  to  the  whole 
amount  involved.  Examples:  "Weed  the  poke  and  put 
it  back."     "He  weeded  a  sawbuck  to  me  under  the  table." 


ST 


WHITE  LINE,  WHITE  LIME,  Noun 

Current  amongst  yeggs  and  hoboes.  Alcohol.  Example: 
"You'll  have  to  go  to  the  croker  and  get  a  stiff  for  the 
white  line." 

WICKY,  Noun 

General  circulation.  Calaboose;  place  of  detention  in 
small  towns  and  villages.  Contraction  from  "WICKY 
UP,"  an  old  term  for  a  small  tent,  used  by  the  Indians. 

WIPE,  Noun 

General  currency.     A  handkerchief. 

WIRE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  pickpockets.  The  principal  craftsman  in 
a  "gun  mob."     See   "CLAW;"   "JERVE;"    "TOOL." 

WOLF,  Verb 

General  currency.    To  vehemently  protest.    See  "SQUAWK." 

^  WOP,  Noun 

Used  principally  in  the  east.  An  ignorant  person;  a  for- 
eigner; an  impossible  character.  See  "BOOB."  Example: 
"You  couldn't  find  a  jitney  with  a  search  warrant  in  this 
bunch  of  wops." 

WORM,  Noun 

Current  amongst  shoplifters.  Silk;  a  bolt  of  silk.  Ex- 
ample:    "Can  you  swing  under  with  a  worm?" 


YEGG,  Noun 

General  currency.     A  desperate  criminal  of  the  least  gre- 
garious and  social  type;   a  thieving  tramp. 


YEN  HOCK,  Noun 

Current  amongst  opium  smokers  and  other  dope  fiends. 
The  slender  steel  needle  used  for  preparing  opium  pills 
over  a  lamp  flame.  Used  also  as  a  metaphorical  ad- 
jective to  describe  any  slender  object,  as  a  lean  person. 
Example:  "Ask  the  yen  hock  guinea  to  stake  you  to  a 
glim." 


YEN  SHE,  Noun 

Current  amongst  opium  smokers.  The  residue  of  smoked 
opium,  a  black  cindery  substance  which  clings  to  the  in- 
terior of  an  opium  bowl  after  the  opium  has  been  melted 
by  heat  on  the  face  of  the  bowl. 


YEN  YEN,  Noun 

Current  amongst  opium  smokers.  The  recurrent  relaxa- 
tion from  super  exhilaration  occasioned  by  habitual  indul- 
gence in  any  opiate;  these  three  latter  terms  are  pure 
Chinese,  and  were  imported  into  criminal  circles  with  the 
advent  of  addiction  to  the  opium-smoking  habit  in  the 
United  States  in  the  early  seventies. 


89 


Suggestions  for  the  Reduction 
of  Preventable  Crimes 


It  must  be  apparent,  to  all  who  have  given  more  than  a 
passing  thought  to  the  relation  between  the  criminal  classes 
and  the  law  and  order  departments  of  our  government,  that 
the  peace  officers  to  whom  the  public  looks  for  protection  can 
do  but  little  more  than  apprehend  criminals  after  they  have 
committed  crimes.  For,  although  the  modern  system  of  iden- 
tification, including  the  arts  of  photography,  physical  measure- 
ments and  record  of  finger  prints  together  with  a  biographical 
sketch  of  the  suspect  or  convict,  enables  the  police  to  locate  a 
known  criminal  and  to  frequently  determine  the  probable 
identity  of  an  unknown  who  committed  a  crime  from  the  more 
or  less  faithful  description  furnished  by  the  victim,  it  is  under- 
stood only  too  well  that  personal  knowledge  in  possession  of 
the  peace  officers  concerning  the  criminal  propensities  of  a 
given  individual  is  not  sufficient  warrant  before  a  trial  court 
to  justify  the  imprisonment  of  the  criminal;  and,  furthermore, 
the  readiness  of  venal  counsel  to  plead  the  cause  of  guilty 
persons  for  a  consideration  is  another  insurmountable  obstacle 
to  the  safeguarding  of  society  against  the  depredations  of  the 
vicious  classes  who  entertain  such  high  respect  for  their  free- 
dom of  choice  in  moral  matters  that  they  decline  to  sell  it 
for  bread. 

In  short,  the  point  sought  to  be  brought  out  forcibly  is 
that  property  holders  are  depending  entirely  too  much  upon 
the  police  for  protection  and  too  little  upon  themselves.  If  the 
prevention  of  crime  be  possible  then  it  rests  as  much  with  the 


91 


prospective  victims  to  prevent  it  as  it  does  with  the  guardians 
of  peace,  seeing  the  latter  number  scarcely  more  than  one  to 
the  thousand  of  our  population  and  cannot  be  everywhere 
at  the  same  moment  of  time. 

There  is  one  practical  method  for  successfully  combatting 
stealth  and  deceit,  and  its  keynote  is  awareness.  The  local 
department  of  safety  has  no  bureau  of  publicity  through  whose 
functions  the  whole  public  may  be  educated  in  the  latest 
schemes  for  obtaining  money  and  valuables  by  false  pretense, 
stealth  and  force,  as  well  as  apprised  of  the  presence  in  the 
community  of  this,  that  or  the  other  well-known  confidence 
crook,  sneak  or  robber.  Just  as  the  fire  department  is  but 
partially  efficient  in  preventing  fires  and  is  necessarily  de- 
voted to  their  suppression  after  they  have  come  into  existence, 
so  the  police  must  often  await  the  call  for  help  from  the  thief's 
victim  before  they  may  take  action.  This  is  not  always  the 
case,  of  course,  as  in  critical  times  of  crime  epidemic,  or  upon 
the  threatened  approach  of  criminal  action,  or  in  cases  of  ex- 
posed conspiracy,  all  the  potential  as  well  as  actual  criminals 
in  the  community  may  be  rounded  up  and  detained  by  opera- 
tion of  the  vagrancy  act.  However,  even  in  times  of  ordinary 
or  seeming  quietude  the  total  amount  of  losses  suffered  by  the 
public  and  which  are  never  accounted  for  satisfactorily  makes 
a  staggering  sum.  All  losses  are  not  discovered  at  once;  of 
those  that  are  all  are  not  reported  to  the  police;  whilst  of  the 
reported  losses  only  a  fraction  are  ever  recovered. 

Many  victims  of  the  criminal  classes  prefer  for  one  reason 
or  another  not  to  let  their  losses  come  to  light.  One  reason 
is  lack  of  confidence  in  the  capability  of  the  police  to  appre- 
hend the  criminal  or  recover  the  loss,  and  this  feeling  Is  often 
held  unjustly,  arising  out  of  the  failure  of  the  victim  to  recog- 
nize the  fact  that  police  are  no  more  omniscient  or  omnipotent 
than  other  men,  but  labor  under  quite  as  rigid  limitations  as 
do  the  victims  of  the  criminals. 


»2 


It  devolves,  therefore,  upon  the  public  at  large  to  co- 
operate as  far  as  possible  with  the  peace  officers  in  preventing 
crime  by  the  adoption  of  self-protective  measures,  not  measures 
of  violence,  but  of  self-education  in  the  methods  of  crime  and 
of  elimination  of  such  glaring  opportunities  as  constitute  a 
standing  invitation  to  the  morally  weak  and  irresponsible  to 
help  themselves  to  whatever  is  not  nailed  down,  sewed  up  in 
a  bag,  or  too  hot  or  of  too  high  speed.  The  average  citizen 
disdains  to  inquire  into  the  modes  of  the  criminal  element;  it 
is  so  sordid!  Besides,  he  hires  the  policeman  to  do  this  dirty 
work  for  him.  It  is  the  policeman's  business  to  rake  in  the 
muck  and  to  get  himself  slaughtered,  if  need  be,  in  return  for 
the  ninety  dollars  per  month  which  the  citizen  pays  him. 
Again,  Mr.  Citizen  is  asleep  at  the  switch  regarding  self- 
protection  until  he  suffers  a  loss,  or  he  may  have  to  suffer  a 
great  many  losses  before  he  awakens  to  the  realization  that  he 
as  well  as  the  policeman  has  a  certain  part  to  play  in  the  main- 
tenance of  public  security. 

The  United  States  Supreme  Court  has  held  that  it  devolves 
upon  a  plaintiff  to  secure  himself  against  fraud  through  altered 
bank  checks  by  the  personal  use  of  the  most  approved  devices 
which  insure  protection.  Suppose  this  same  principle  were 
applied  to  every  merchant  in  the  protection  of  his  goods  against 
theft;  to  every  automobile  owner;  to  every  individual  who 
carries  money  on  his  person;  to  every  householder  who  care- 
lessly leaves  vulnerable  points  to  the  watchfulness  of  Provi- 
dence; to  the  credulous  people  who  fall  easy  victims  to  the 
wiles  of  confidence  men  of  a  hundred  schemes?  Of  course, 
there  is  no  danger  that  the  principle  will  be  applied  except  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  your  personal  conscience  after  you  have 
looked  the  issue  squarely  in  the  face.  Then  you  may  come  to 
the  reduction  of  preventable  crimes,  whose  solution  rests  upon 
a  due  recognition  of  carelessnsess  and  ignorance  as  the  chief 
factors.  Non-preventable  crimes  occur  by  reason  of  public 
impotence,    both   physical    and    mental.     When   your    pocket    is 


93 


picked  it  is  because  of  your  ignorance;  or  if  you  were  pre- 
viously aware  of  the  pickpockets'  methods  then  your  loss  Is  to 
be  ascribed  to  carelessness.  You  wouldn't  dare  put  your  hand 
into  a  lion's  mouth  because  you  are  afraid  he  will  bite  it.  You 
know  a  pickpocket  will  put  his  hand  in  your  pocket  and  yet 
you    are    foolhardy    enough    to    carry    valuables    in    accessible 

depositories. 

The  grand  combination  of  popular  attractions  staged  in  all 
the  cities  of  the  Pacific  Coast  for  the  year  1915  will  act  as  a 
powerful  magnet  to  draw  thither  numerous  criminals  of  almost 
every  profession  for  the  purpose  of  thriving  upon  the  ignorant, 
the  careless  and  the  unprotected.  They  will  operate  upon  the 
visitors  and  the  natives  with  equal  avidity  and  daring.  Their 
ranks  will  be  made  up  mainly  of  the  cleverest  members  of  their 
crafts;  and  as  it  will  cost  them  a  considerable  outlay  to  come 
it  is  a  foregone  conclusion  that  they  will  come  with  a  keener 
view  to  business  than  to  pleasure.  A  few  of  them  will  in- 
evitably fall  into  the  clutches  of  the  law;  more,  however,  will 
probably  be  fortunate  enough  to  get  back  to  their  native  habitat 
laden  with  the  spoils  of  adventure,  whilst  a  percentage  of  the 
whole  number  may  be  expected,  and  reasonably,  to  fall  by 
the  wayside  and  thenceforth  for  an  indefinite  season  be  com- 
pelled to  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  home  talent  and  ply  their 
trades  in  the  principal  coast  cities.  Every  cosmopolitan  law 
and  order  bureau  will  delegate  representatives  to  the  big  cele- 
brations to  co-operate  with  local  officials  in  identifying  and 
apprehending  pedigreed  malefactors;  still,  a  liberal  estimate 
of  the  ratio  of  arrests  to  crimes  will  probably  be  one  in  every 
ten.  Whilst  the  virtuous  hold  lawful  carnival  during  the  com- 
ing year  the  vicious  will  prosper. 

There's  an  old  saying,  "Three  meals  missed  makes  a  pos- 
sible thief  and  six  meals  missed  makes  a  possible  murderer." 
More  to  the  point,  though,  is  the  saying,  "Eternal  vigilance  is 
the  pr'ce  of  security."  Very  little  stealing  occurs  in  well- 
regulated     banks,     jewelry     stores     and     corporation     counting 


84 


houses,  with  the  unavoidable  exceptions  of  crimes  by  superior 
force  or  internal  disloyalty,  for  the  simple  but  signal  reason 
that  methods  of  awareness  are  in  vogue  there.  This  was  not 
always  so;  for  they  had  to  learn  awareness  in  the  school  of 
cold,  hard  facts,  having  been  "bumped"  and  "twisted"  and 
"turned"  and  "flimmed"  and  "gyped"  times  innumerable  be- 
fore they  learned  the  value  of  precaution,  self-defense. 

There  are  two  places  from  which  a  thief  will  not  steal: 
where  there  is  nothing  attainable  and  where  the  possessors 
of  the  attainable  are  as  wise  and  ready  in  self-defense  as  the 
thief  himself.  The  eternal  struggle  to  attain  goods  is  not  more 
strenuous  than  the  battle  to  hold  them.  For,  whilst  possession 
is  nine  points  of  the  law,  dispossession  is  such  an  easy  achieve- 
ment with  one  professional  despoiler  in  every  thousand  of  our 
population  that  it  behooves  everyone  in  whose  education  this 
fundamental  element  of  self-protection  has  been  too  sadly 
neglected  to  polish  up  his  wit  now  and  then  by  taking  stock 
of  what  the  bold  criminal  may  do  in  the  way  of  seizing  oppor- 
tunities. The  self-reliant  may  not  be  frightened,  yet  it  is  not 
the  purpose  to  frighten  even  the  timid;  it  is,  nevertheless,  the 
duty  of  every  citizen  to  pay  heed  to  timely  warning  on  the 
subject  of  preventable  crime  not  alone  that  he  may  protect 
himself  but  likewise  contribute  to  the  protection  of  the  weaker 
by  removing  as  much  of  temptation  from  the  path  of  the 
criminally  inclined  as  is  found  to  be  practical  and  consistent 
with  general  commerce  and  the  open  enjoyment  of  honestly 
acquired  wealth. 

In  this  regard  consider  that  twenty  years  and  less  ago 
jewelers  all  over  this  land,  with  very  rare  exceptions,  were  as 
easy  prey  to  the  pennyweighters,  or  diamond  and  jewelry 
thieves,  as  the  burial  mounds  or  "huacas"  of  the  Incas  with 
their  fabulous  treasure  in  gold  ornaments  and  bullion  were  to 
Pizzaro  and  his  free  hooters.  Such  was  the  lack  of  self- 
protection  in  the  system  of  display  employed  by  the  jewelers 
in   the    recent    past   that    anyone   with   the    desire   and    temerity 


95 


could  help  himself  out  of  trays  in  which  gold  ornamented  with 
diamonds  and  other  precious  stones  was  heaped  indiscriminately 
in  such  wise  as  to  render  detection  of  loss  out  of  the  question 
on  the  instant.  Through  the  organized  efforts  of  the  jewelers 
and  opticians,  by  means  of  their  trade  review,  all  this  loose 
carelessness  was  wiped  out,  precision  and  order  in  display  and 
necessary  changes  in  fixtures  were  adopted;  a  system  of  sur- 
veillance and  nation-wide  reports  on  criminal  developments 
were  carried  out  methodically,  until  today  it  is  a  very  infre- 
quent occurrence  for  a  capably  managed  jewelry  store  to  suffer 
loss  except  by  robbery  through  violence  or  by  disloyalty  of 
employees.  And  jewelers  themselves  are  not  the  sole  bene- 
ficiaries of  this  new  order  of  self  protection;  they  have  almost 
totally  denied  to  the  sneak  thief  the  opportunity,  or  temptation, 
of  replenishing  a  depleted  subsistence  fund. 

What  they  have  done  for  jewelers  the  banks,  aided  by  the 
Inventive  genius  of  the  Todds  and  the  Burns  Detective  Agency, 
are  doing  for  savings  fund  and  commercial  bank  depositors. 
The  fraudulent  issuance  and  alteration  of  bank  paper  has  as- 
sumed enormous  proportions  in  recent  years,  but  by  the  opera- 
tion of  protective  measures  this  resource  of  the  lawless  will 
soon  be  entirely  cut  off. 

The  evolution  of  the  small  merchandising  business  into 
great  department  stores  has  proved  another  fruitful  source  for 
both  the  early  schooling  and  continued  support  of  petty  and 
grand  sneak  thieves  by  the  irrepressible  display  of  unprotected 
5?oods.  The  eagerness  to  sell  lays  the  managers  open  not  only 
to  personal  loss,  which  must  eventually  be  charged  off  to  ad- 
vertising or  some  other  item  of  overhead  costs,  but  also  to 
widespread  community  loss  by  the  activities  of  the  successful 
thieves  outside  the  department  store.  In  proportionate  measure 
nearly  every  storekeeper  who  openly  displays  small  or  compact 
and  valuable  merchandise  is  contributing  to  the  temptation  of 
first-timers  and  to  the  required  opportunities  of  the  professional 
thief  and  the  kleptomaniac.     When  confronted  with  this  truth 


96 


storekeepers  shrug  their  shoulders  as  though  they  are  between 
the  horns  of  a  dilemma  and  say,  "We  set  our  goods  out  for 
people  to  buy,  not  to  steal,"  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  or 
thieves  in  general  some  are  born  so,  some  become  so  by  sur- 
rounding circumstances,  whilst  every  son  of  Adam  is  a  poten- 
tial thief.  You  may  deny  this  with  as  much  vehemence  as  you 
care  to  expend  in  protest  against  the  aspersion  of  perfectly 
honest  people,  but  if  you  know  the  hidden  workings  of  the 
human  mind  you  must  pause  when  you  reflect  that  hope,  the 
well  spring  of  ambition,  is  a  variable  in  every  personality  at 
different  times,  and  when  It,  hope,  reaches  the  maximum  in- 
tensity it  becomes  avarice.  And  with  avarice  goes  the  power 
of  lying,  mendacity  in  word  or  action  or  both.  Hence  the 
above  truth.  For,  a  liar  will  deceive,  and  larceny  is  but  a 
degree  of  deceit.  And  once  capable  of  lying  the  particular 
manifestation  of  larceny  is  but  a  question  of  congenital  talent 
or  combination  of  talents.  But  to  get  back  to  the  subject  of 
preventable  crimes. 

Admitting  that  only  a  small  proportion  of  crimes  against 
property  are  preventable  (and  in  these  suggestions  for  the 
reduction  of  preventable  crime  only  the  crimes  against  property 
are  being  given  consideration),  when  we  come  to  deal  in  ag- 
gregate losses,  say  annual  ones,  whatever  proportion  may  be 
prevented,  by  the  timely  dissemination  of  helpful  information 
upon  this  subject,  should  be  recognized  as  a  definite  gain. 
During  this  unusually  active  year  the  total  losses  to  be  in- 
flicted upon  the  fixed  and  floating  population  will  undoubtedly 
run  into  five  and  maybe  six  figures. 

Of  the  dozen  unorganized  guilds  of  professional  criminals 
enumerated  in  the  introduction  to  the  Vocabulary  the  most 
to  be  feared  and  guarded  against  are  burglars,  sneak  thieves, 
merchandise  thieves,  forgers,  utterers  of  false  paper,  confidence 
men,  pickpockets  and  thieves  who  threaten  violence.  Of  these 
the  burglar  and  the  robber  who  uses  weapons  as  an  aide  are 
the  most  difficult  to  deal  with.     Their  suppression  is  almost 


97 


impossible,  yet  their  partial  defeat  may  be  confidently  hoped 
for  by  the  increased  watchfulness  of  the  peace  officers,  aided 
by  the  greater  prudence  of  householders  and  prospective  vic- 
tims in  general. 

What  was  said  about  banks,  jewelry  and  specialty  mer- 
chandise dealers  applies  with  equal  pertinence  to  householders 
and  others  who  offer  promising  occasions  for  the  application 
of  the  burglar's  skill.  Ordinary  locks  offer  little  protection 
against  the  burglar's  master  keys,  jimmy  and  other  tools  of 
forcible  or  surreptitious  entry;  yet  the  greater  secretion  of 
valuables  may  prove  an  effective  remedy  against  casual  loss. 
Still,  the  best  advice  available  for  protection  against  this  sort 
of  loss  may  be  laughed  to  scorn  by  the  clandestine  act  of  a 
desperate  or  determined  criminal. 

But  of  sneak  stealing  in  stores  much  relief  may  be  had  by 
a  sane  regard  for  safety  in  display.  Valuables  should  not  be 
placed  within  reach  of  every  ostensible  patron,  neither  on  top 
of  counters  and  show-cases  nor  in  end  show-cases  nor  in  un- 
protected windows.  If  show-cases  are  so  narrow  as  to  admit 
of  access  from  the  outside,  in  front,  by  reaching  across,  they 
should  be  kept  locked.  The  same  with  all  end  show-cases, 
where  free  passage  to  their  rears  may  be  had.  The  merchant 
who  violates  these  modern  canons  of  commercial  prudence  not 
only  assumes  personal  risk  but  he  abets  the  thief  and  is  a 
source  of  danger  to  others. 

In  department  store  prudence  these  same  observations  hold 
good,  and  what  is  more  important  every  clerk  should  be  trained 
as  thoroughly  in  the  protection  of  the  goods  submitted  to  his 
care  as  he  is  in  the  execution  of  common  exchange  formalities. 
No  goods  should  be  shown  any  customer  without  mental  in- 
ventory of  the  number  of  separate  displays,  so  that  accurate 
account  may  be  constantly  kept  of  them,  and  when  the  fancy 
or  demands  of  the  customer  are  not  satisfied  with  an  accumu- 
lation of  goods  which  is  assuming  proportions  too  difficult  to 
inventory  in  a  spontaneous  summary  they,  or  at  least  a  part 


98 


of  them,  should  be  removed.  Goods  should  not  be  left  upon 
display  while  the  clerk  withdraws  his  presence  in  search  of 
other  samples.  The  secret  of  the  successful  store  thief  con- 
sists in  his  ability  to  obtain  a  confusion  of  displays  and  then 
send  the  clerk  for  an  article  which  lies  at  some  distance.  The 
over-polite  clerk  or  shop-keeper  may  at  first  object  that  he 
cannot  afford  to  be  discourteous,  disrespectful,  suspicious,  ging- 
erly or  risk  wounding  the  susceptibilities  of  a  patron.  This 
objection  would  have  greater  weight  in  a  drawing  room  or  at 
some  function  where  politeness  is  on  trial;  in  business  it  counts 
for  far  less  than  safety. 

Observe  the  presence  of  mind  of  your  jeweler  when  he 
finds  it  necessary  to  go  in  search  of  other  displays.  He  knows 
it  might  prove  fatal  once  in  a  hundred  times  to  leave  a  stranger 
in  undisputed  possession  of  a  tray  of  valuables,  for  even  though 
he  has  them  so  arranged  in  geometrical  formation  as  to  detect 
an  abstraction  he  is  aware  that  a  substitution  might  be  made 
in  the  flash  of  an  eye  and  thus  wipe  out  the  profits  accruing 
from  the  previous  ninety-nine  customers  who  inspected  his 
goods.  No,  he  feels  that  business  can  dispense  with  the  urbane 
conventions,  and  he  avoids  possible  loss  from  this  source  of 
ever-present  danger,  as  the  veriest  tyro  of  either  sex  and  any 
age  possessed  of  inordinate  desire  could  easily  help  him  or 
herself  whilst  the  clerk's  back  is  turned. 

When  store  sneaks  operate  in  pairs  or  threes  one,  or  in 
the  latter  case  perhaps  two,  of  the  number  assumes  the  at- 
titude of  purchaser  whilst  the  seemingly  indifferent  companion 
or  companions  plot  to  secrete  goods.  It  is  generally  considered 
the  duty  of  a  floor  or  department  manager  to  keep  a  lookout 
for  such  seemingly  unoccupied  companions  of  purchasers,  yet 
it  would  be  a  profitable  investment  of  time  and  pains  to  in- 
struct each  and  every  clerk  in  the  simple  rules  of  protection. 
An  incentive,  such  as  a  bonus  or  promotion,  should  be  held 
out  as  an  extra  inducement  to  clerks  to  prevent  thefts.  Loss 
sustained  through  internal  peculations  is,  of  course,  a  constant 


99 


annoyance,  not  so  much  on  account  of  actualities  as  on  account 
of  possibilities.  In  well-regulated  establishments  where  no 
employee  may  enter  the  display  rooms  with  hat,  package,  um- 
brella, coat  or  wrap,  and  can  therefore  carry  none  away,  the 
chief  losses  by  dishonest  employees  are  those  of  such  small 
articles  as  may  be  hidden  on  the  person.  There  still  remains 
the  avenue  of  secret  transfer  of  the  store's  property  to  friends 
of  the  clerks  who  may  carry  the  same  away  in  bags,  suit  cases 
or  In  packages  wrapped  in  paper  imported  into  the  store  by 
the  clerk's  confederate.  However,  such  cases  do  not  come  up 
frequently  and  are  very  difficult  of  avoidance  except  by  means 
of  daily  or  weekly  inventories  and  an  exhaustive  knowledge  of 
the  employee's  previous  character  and  associates,  which  is  an 
almost  superhuman  problem. 

Clerks  in  all  stores  should  be  warned  to  scrutinize,  not 
Impertinently,  all  strangers  carrying  packages  of  bulk,  boxes, 
traveling  bags,  umbrellas  unfurled  and  loose  or  heavy  wraps, 
whether  worn  or  carried  on  the  arm,  as  these  all  afford  means 
for  secreting  goods.  Yet  if  the  few  previous  suggestions  are 
observed  no  goods  may  be  extracted  from  a  special  display, 
though  the  fixed  and  open  displays  do  afford  opportunities  for 
the  use  of  these  sneak  thief  aides.  Dangerous  or  professional 
store  thieves  thrive  not  on  trifling  articles,  but  upon  the  more 
valuable  lines  of  merchandise,  such  as  silks  in  bolts,  articles 
of  silk  manufacture,  furs,  leather  goods,  art  works,  jewelry, 
wearing  apparel,  millinery  and  dress  trimmings.  Such  goods 
should  be  removed  as  far  as  possible  from  exits. 

In  smaller  establishments  these  same  rules  for  secruity 
should  be  carefully   carried  out. 

The  stupendous  losses  suffered  by  business  men  of  every 
class  from  the  operations  of  forgers  and  utterers  of  false  paper 
could  be  materially  lessened  if  not  wholly  stamped  out  were 
obliging  business  men  to  adopt  the  commonest  measure  in 
vogue  in  the  telegraph  offices,  express  offices,  postoffices  and 
banks  throughout  the  country — that  of  absolutely   refusing  to 


100 


cash  paper  of  any  variety  for  unidentified  strangers.  The 
strict  enforcement  of  this  principle  might  sacrifice  trade  for  a 
time  but  it  would  save  loss  and  eventually  when  all  reputable 
business  houses  by  mutual  agreement  honor  the  observance  the 
obtaining  of  money  by  false  pretenses  with  paper  as  collateral 
would  be  impossible.  Whoever  writes  a  check  or  draft  or  signs 
a  note  or  other  negotiable  instrument  unrecorded  without  pro- 
tecting the  same  by  the  most  modern  methods  is  foolishly 
laying  himself  liable  as  well  as  contributing  to  the  loss  of 
other  individuals.  Whoever  thoughtlessly  leaves  his  check 
book  in  accessible  places  incurs  the  jeopardy  of  community  and 
personal  loss,  seeing  that  "paper  hangers"  are  vigilant  in  the 
search  for  these.  A  locked  desk  drawer  is  not  sufficient  pro- 
tection as  a  "jimmy"  will  pry  open  any  furniture  lock. 

As  for  confidence  men,  that  satirical  old  saying  "There's  a 
new  sucker  born  every  minute"  is  so  true  that  the  task  of 
educating  them  all  to  the  folly  of  entertaining  get-rich-schemes 
is  quite  beyond  the  power  of  even  a  wise  man.  The  shortest 
and  safest  rule  for  self  protection  against  misrepresentation  is 
"Don't  do  it  in  a  hurry."  Take  your  time;  if  the  proposition 
is  good  it  will  keep  for  a  day  or  so;  besides  it  will  bear  full 
investigation.  If  you  are  considering  the  investment  of  any 
sum  of  money  in  somebody's  else  scheme  don't  be  too  proud 
or  stubborn  to  seek  the  advice  of  a  man  of  large  affairs  and 
unquestioned  integrity — your  banker,  for  instance,  or  your  legal 
adviser.  If  you  have  no  relations  with  either  of  these  pro- 
fessions consult  your  friend.  Anyway,  take  it  easy,  take  it  easy 
and  don't  swallow  the  hook  at  one  gulp.  This  will  be  especially 
difficult  to  avoid  if  your  cupidity  be  aroused,  provided,  of 
course,  you  be  burdened  with  such  excess  emotional  baggage. 
If  you  make  wagers  with  strangers  or  casual  acquaintances  you 
are  a  candidate  for  the  mourner's  bench,  and  sometimes  all 
your  regrets  and  the  best  efforts  of  the  police  are  of  no  avail 
to  bring  back  a  single  dollar  of  your  loss.  You  simply  pay  so 
much  money  for  so  little  experience,  which  may  be  likened  to 
a  mule's  kick,  not  being  worth  anything  when  acquired. 


101 


As  for  pickpockets  know  these  things:  If  you  must  carry 
money  on  your  person  carry  it  in  an  inside  vest  pocket,  or 
nearer  In  yet  if  possible.  And  don't  keep  your  hand  on  it, 
nor  feel  of  it  every  once  in  a  while  to  see  If  it  Is  stUi  there, 
lest  a  pickpocket  observe  your  concern  Is  solicitous  and  shortly 
cause  you  to  learn  that  it  Is  not  there  but  elsewhere;  just 
where  no  man  may  be  able  to  inform  you. 

Avoid  crowds  if  you  carry  money  on  your  person  and  do 
aot  be  too  eager  in  the  press  when  boarding  or  alighting  from 
street  cars,  when  leaving  a  theatre  or  other  public  gathering, 
or  when   seeking  a  vantage   point   at   a  fire   or  other   unusual 
spectacle.    For  it  Is  In  these  places  that  they  do  it.    It  may  be 
your  house  rent,  or  your  entire  savings,  or  your  employer's  or 
your   friend's   money   that  you   are   carrying,   but   If  you   must 
carry  money  don't  exhibit  it  nor  get  In  a  jamb.     If  you  observe 
these  suggestions  the  only  opportunity  the  pickpocket  will  find 
to  relieve  you  of  valuables  will  be  when  you  are  intoxicated  or 
hypnotized.     Women  who  carry  money  In  a  hand  purse  or  bag 
on  the  street,  especially  at  night  or  In  crowded  places,  run  an 
even  greater  risk  of  loss  than  do  men,  for  there  are  ten  ama- 
teur pickpockets,  maybe  a  score,  to  every  one  who  by  practice 
has  acquired  the  skill  necessary  to  extract  valuables  from  the 
person,   and   the   amateurs   operate   on   women   chiefly,    finding 
little  difficulty  In  opening  a  hand  bag  and  extracting  a  purse 
therefrom  in  a  jamb.     The  fairs  and  carnivals  on  the  Pacific 
Coast  in   1915  will  call   many  of  these   gentry  from   the   East. 
Greater   familiarity    with   the   ways   of  criminals    could    be 
acquired    If    the    department    of    public    safety    were    provided 
with  the  means  for  organizing  and  maintaining  a  publicity  bu- 
reau whose  operatives  should  be   charged   with  the   duties   of 
developing   measures   for    preventing   crime    by   circulating    all 
the  Information  available  upon  the  subject.     Against  this   pro- 
posal will  be  offered  the  objection  that  too  many  are  already 
familiar  with  criminal  methods.     On  the  contrary,  though,  the 
fact  of  the  matter  is  that  too  few  are  prepared  by  foreknowl- 


102 


edge   of   the    proper   means   for   defeating   the    propagation   of 
criminal  actions. 

The  present  system  maintained  by  each  community  leans 
more  toward  a  cleansing  of  the  locality  of  criminals  by  "float- 
ing" them  off  to  another  locality  than  it  does  toward  either 
prevention  or  permanent  suppression  of  criminals.  These  de- 
linquent ones  are  as  much  the  nation's  wards  as  are  the  hun- 
dred-odd thousand  dependent  Indians  or  the  insane.  While  a 
great  step  in  advance  of  old  customs  has  been  taken  by  the 
adoption  of  the  indeterminate  sentence  law,  so  long  as  the 
individual  who  has  repeatedly  demonstrated  his  propensities 
for  moral  obliquity  is  merely  restrained  and  not  improved  both 
physically  and  intellectually  just  that  long  will  he  continue  to 
be  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  law-abiding  society.  And  he  will  not 
be  improved  until  you  demand  that  he  shall.  When  a  man's 
principles  and  actions  square  with  each  other  you  are  impotent 
to  convince  him  of  his  wrongness  and  your  rightness;  and  if 
punishment,  the  punishment  of  confinement,  cannot  awaken  a 
higher  feeling  of  responsibility  in  the  convict  how  can  you 
hope  to  eradicate  his  evil  by  hiding  it  from  your  sight,  by 
consigning  him  to  a  living  limbo?  This  accusation  against 
society's  present  methods  could  not  be  made  without  fear  of 
refutation  if  it  could  be  shown  that  the  ratio  of  criminals  to 
population  has  diminished  in  the  past  fifty  years.  But  it  has 
increased  rather  than  diminished,  which  points  out  the  fact 
that  there  is  a  palpable  flaw  in  the  system  of  apprehending, 
convicting  and  imprisoning  criminals  at  such  tremendous  ex- 
pense. A  sincerer  effort  must  be  made  to  lift  up  the  delin- 
quent if  lasting  good  is  to  come  from  our  peace  measures 
within  the  house. 


103 


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